UNPACK This...Evangelism for Sports FansSample

Playing And Praying For Someone Else

Despite being one of the best point guards to ever play the game, Chris Paul has yet to win an NBA Final.

Entering the final stage of his career, Paul has played well, but he’s also been playing alongside very talented young stars such as Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton.

As excited and hungry as Paul continues to be to win the NBA Finals, his teammates sometimes seem to be even more motivated to help him win because they love him so much.

It’s interesting when teammates are inspired to do what they can to support a teammate they dearly love.

Similarly, as followers of Jesus, we have the opportunity to pray hard for someone else to experience the joy of coming to know Christ as Savior.

Walking alongside someone and praying for them is a privilege. For the people in our lives who don’t know Jesus, we want to fervently pray that they would taste the victory found in Him.

Players passionately want something for Chris Paul, but the question for us to ask ourselves is, do we passionately want others to know God, repent, be saved, and encounter His love?

The Apostle Paul shared his heart by writing in Romans 10:1, “Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved.”

He also writes to a different audience explaining another prayer in Colossians 1:9: “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding…”

Are we intentional about praying for others? Do we demonstrate our love for people by praying for them?

Sharing the Gospel with others is good and necessary, but we must also be devoted to prayer if we hope to see people come to a saving knowledge of Christ.

Today, let’s think of people around us who don’t know Jesus and lovingly bring them before the Father in prayer.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please put the people on my heart You want me to pray for. I desire to see others know You. I pray I would come alongside those who need help in finding victory in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

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