“And Thy House” Acts 16: 31
by Lee Brase
It was late at night. I opened the front door carefully; I did not want to waken anyone--especially my mom or my dad. As a teenager, I knew that they wouldn't want me to be out late. I opened the door and stepped into our living room … and there was Mom! She was on her knees by the couch--praying. I knew that she was praying for my two brothers and for me. Seeing her on her knees brought conviction to my heart.
Mom had become a follower of Christ when I was eight years old. As she began reading the Bible, praying, going to meetings at church and listening to a radio evangelist, all of us could see the change in her.
One day, while Mom was reading her Bible, she came across Acts 16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31, KJV). She wrote to a radio evangelist to ask what was meant by “and thy house.” He replied, “It means you and your family.” To Mom, her family included her husband and children, but her parents, brothers, sisters and in-laws.
From that very day she never stopped praying and believing that all of her relatives would come to faith in Jesus Christ. One grandmother accepted Christ only two weeks before she died. Another grandmother, just three days prior to entering eternity. An uncle, who had been a fully committed follower of a cult, trusted in Jesus Christ three months before his death.
A few years ago Mom and I wrote down the names of our relatives who have put their faith in Christ since she first believed and prayed Acts 16:31. We wrote down 45 names! All of our immediate family were on the “saved” list.
Now I realize that Mom did not just pray. She prayed, believing the promises of God. This began for me a venture of prayer and faith.
During the Korean conflict, I was drafted into the Army. I knew that if something spiritually significant were to happen in my battalion, I would need to pray. Therefore, I spent many evenings at the base chapel on my knees. For the first time I began to experience personally God's power at work through my prayers of faith. One by one men gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Soon I was leading a Bible study with about 25 young Christians.
Years ago my wife and I went into a full-time Christian ministry. What I saw God doing through my mother's prayers affected how I approached our ministry on the college campus in a foreign country. For weeks I walked the streets of the campus--praying. Then I began to contact students. The fruit of that ministry has spread to most continents of the world.
My mother's prayer life reminds me of Abel, of whom it was written, “By faith he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4, NIV).
This article was included within an e-mail from a friend. It reminds us that God remains true to His word, today. I claim this word for my own family....Amen. You make it yours too. Household Salvation.
Prayer
Lord, we know that You care more for our loved ones than we could ever imagine. Help us to avoid discouragement when they seem to reject You. Please strengthen our faith and remind us to pray for and to reach out to those we love who do not yet know Christ so that our “house may be saved.” We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
by Lee Brase
It was late at night. I opened the front door carefully; I did not want to waken anyone--especially my mom or my dad. As a teenager, I knew that they wouldn't want me to be out late. I opened the door and stepped into our living room … and there was Mom! She was on her knees by the couch--praying. I knew that she was praying for my two brothers and for me. Seeing her on her knees brought conviction to my heart.
Mom had become a follower of Christ when I was eight years old. As she began reading the Bible, praying, going to meetings at church and listening to a radio evangelist, all of us could see the change in her.
One day, while Mom was reading her Bible, she came across Acts 16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31, KJV). She wrote to a radio evangelist to ask what was meant by “and thy house.” He replied, “It means you and your family.” To Mom, her family included her husband and children, but her parents, brothers, sisters and in-laws.
From that very day she never stopped praying and believing that all of her relatives would come to faith in Jesus Christ. One grandmother accepted Christ only two weeks before she died. Another grandmother, just three days prior to entering eternity. An uncle, who had been a fully committed follower of a cult, trusted in Jesus Christ three months before his death.
A few years ago Mom and I wrote down the names of our relatives who have put their faith in Christ since she first believed and prayed Acts 16:31. We wrote down 45 names! All of our immediate family were on the “saved” list.
Now I realize that Mom did not just pray. She prayed, believing the promises of God. This began for me a venture of prayer and faith.
During the Korean conflict, I was drafted into the Army. I knew that if something spiritually significant were to happen in my battalion, I would need to pray. Therefore, I spent many evenings at the base chapel on my knees. For the first time I began to experience personally God's power at work through my prayers of faith. One by one men gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Soon I was leading a Bible study with about 25 young Christians.
Years ago my wife and I went into a full-time Christian ministry. What I saw God doing through my mother's prayers affected how I approached our ministry on the college campus in a foreign country. For weeks I walked the streets of the campus--praying. Then I began to contact students. The fruit of that ministry has spread to most continents of the world.
My mother's prayer life reminds me of Abel, of whom it was written, “By faith he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4, NIV).
This article was included within an e-mail from a friend. It reminds us that God remains true to His word, today. I claim this word for my own family....Amen. You make it yours too. Household Salvation.
Prayer
Lord, we know that You care more for our loved ones than we could ever imagine. Help us to avoid discouragement when they seem to reject You. Please strengthen our faith and remind us to pray for and to reach out to those we love who do not yet know Christ so that our “house may be saved.” We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
