If you’re a Christian, you most likely have a desire to bring others to the cross, to tell them of Salvation, what Jesus has done for them.
There is not a way for us to force salvation on anyone:
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12
Each person must come to the cross to reconcile their soul to Christ.
We, apart from God, do not do anything of any value for His Kingdom. Without His help and leading, our works are just fleshly and dead works. The Holy Spirit is the One who draws us to Him, Who brings people to the knowledge of who Jesus the Christ is and what He has accomplished to offer Salvation and a walk through this world with Him.
Our job is to point people to Christ. The old saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink.” applies here. We should not and cannot do either the work of the Holy Spirit or the searching or desire in someone else. We can pray, yes, we can even fast, but the work is the Lord’s. He draws people to Himself.
Flesh produces attitudes of the heart such as this:
This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
(Matthew 15:8)
The burden is off of us as humans. We cannot do seek God for anyone else. It’s not our responsibility or duty. Each person will face Jesus Christ alone on Judgment Day and in order to be saved, each person must make his or her own decision.
The best thing we can do is to be obedient to the Lord, sensitive to His leading and do whatever it is He asks us to do.
I have prayed for people; prayed for open doors to speak to them; asked Him while I’m speaking to them to say what He wants me to say. This is not because I am perfect, I make plenty of mistakes. This is because I want to please Him and I know that nothing I do, apart from Him will make a difference. He HAS to be involved. It’s His Holy Spirit who ultimately does the leading and opening and closing and such.
This also can be important when people are asking your opinion about what they should do. If you don’t want the responsibility for their actions, it is best to direct them to the Lord and not tell them what to do. That does not mean you can’t give advice, but not as commands. Let them make their decisions and come to their own determinations.
Should I go to this school or that one? buy this car or this house or marry this person or move to this city? Stay away from telling people what to do. That is up to them. There are a lot of people who like to tell people what to do. Giving advice is not the same as making decisions for someone. Just be considerate that you are not commanding people’s lives, even your own children. As they are able, give them the tools to make their own decisions and help them the best you can without ruling over them.
Leading others to Christ in their decisions is healthful in their Christian walk. Guiding them to listen and seek after God’s plan for their lives is very beneficial and teaching them to hear and understand His plan for their lives is an excellent way to aid. Let us trust God the best way to help those God has put on our paths to trust God on their own. You can ask God to give you wisdom on how to help them and, at the same time, be admonishing them to seek the Lord themselves. Free them from you and point them to the Lord.
Scriptural References:
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Matthew 11:27
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life John 6:63
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Titus 3:5
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:13&14
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. John 15:26
This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 1 John 5:6-8
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment Hebrews 9:27
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5