Choose to Intercede

“But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowed, he withdrew from them…” Acts 19:9 csb

In my 22+ years as a Christian, I have met people from all over the world. Each person comes with their own worldview, spiritual understanding (or lack thereof), and personal philosophies. I have found that when I share my testimony of how the Lord found me and express my desire for them to believe in Christ, many simply refuse. They flat-out reject it. This can be discouraging—especially when it’s your own family—because you know that what you have found is exactly what they need!

Throughout the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul ministered to people all over the Roman Empire, seeking to persuade them to surrender their lives to Christ. One group he consistently reached out to was his own countrymen, the Israelites. While many did convert and give their hearts to Jesus, many others did not. In the passage above, we see that some Jews in Ephesus not only refused to believe but became callous—more hardened in their opposition to the Gospel—to the point of slandering it! When Paul witnessed this, he didn’t argue, insult, or retaliate. Instead, he chose to leave. He refused to remain where Jesus’ name was being blasphemed.

That is a hard decision to make—when someone rejects the Gospel you share, and worse, when they ridicule the name of the Lord because of your testimony. The reality is that not everyone will believe. As Isaiah 53:1 says, “Who has believed what we have heard?” It is sad and frustrating, but when someone chooses not to believe, we must let them be. The best thing we can do is pray for them. In the Gospels, we see many instances of people coming to Jesus on behalf of others—consider the friends who lowered their paralyzed friend through the roof just to get him in front of Jesus (Luke 5:17).

We can bring others to the Lord in prayer because there are areas of the heart too deep to be reached by words. But the Holy Spirit can access those hidden places and bring conviction. So, we gently depart—but we continue to pray. This is called intercession. Be an intercessor for those who have “become hardened and would not believe.” Put them in the hands of the Lord and watch what He may do. 

Agape, Frank