“Then he said, “Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak one more time. Suppose 10 are found there? “He answered, “I will not destroy it on account of 10.” Gen 18: 32
What I love about this interaction with God is that Abraham responded immediately. There was no question in his heart or mind whether he was going to say something. No doubt He believed in both the mercy and justice of God but wanted to probe the heart of God in relationship to both. Abraham cared for the wicked, he cared for the unrighteous, and he had a heart for those who were living a life displeasing to God.
Intercession is not a religious exercise. You cannot pretend to intercede for people because you know it is the right thing to do. It is not a bad starting place to choose to be in prayer for those who do not know the Lord. But to be successful in intercession or prayer evangelism you must pray with all of your heart and mind and soul. It will cost you something to truly intercede for the lost. It will tear you up would be the layman’s term. God commands us to pray and to pray without ceasing and to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and to pray for all leaders both spiritual and natural. Jesus made it clear that His house was to be a house of prayer for all nations. This can be looked at in two ways.
- Praying for the lost in the nations of the world
- Ethnic groups are being called into the house of God to know Him and pray for all nations to come to Christ.
It is quite interesting to note that the Jewish Messiah was declaring that His Father’s house was to be a house of prayer for all people groups. No ethnic group was excluded, everyone is invited. Everyone who was hungry and everyone who is thirsty, if you want true bread and living water than you are invited. Abraham, whom God covenanted with to be a blessing to all the families of the world is lovingly reaching out through prayer for the most wretched of his day. He did not determine their fate by their lifestyle but believed that they could still be saved otherwise he would not have interceded. Abraham did not focus on their sin, he focused on their eternity and prayed for their salvation. There is a lesson to be learned here for all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, the sin of Christians is just as abhorrent to God as whatever you deem to be an abomination in God’s eyes.
Father, God of the Nations, Lover of all mankind, you sent your son to shed His blood for all. No matter the race, no matter the religion, no matter the sin You loved us so much that you died in our place. Give me a heart for the lost, help me help them find their way back home to Your Love. In Jesus’ Name.