24 Nov It’s a Family Affair: Happy Thanksgiving!
November 23, 2025
It’s a Family Affair: Happy Thanksgiving!
And they answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ [give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved, [and this applies both to] you and your household as well. Act 16:31 AMPC
I was listening to a Christian radio program last week while running errands. It was a live question-and-answer program where people called in to ask the host questions. A caller asked the question, “I know that we’re supposed to be happy and joyous in heaven, but what if some of our loved ones aren’t there how can we be happy?”
This question gave me pause, and later that night, before going to sleep, it came up again. And immediately following that thought, the scripture Acts 16:31 came to me, “And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
The verse gave comfort in my spirit, but it also gave me pause again because I like the Lord desire for all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, 1 Timothy 2:4.
As the woman who asked the question was concerned about not seeing loved ones in heaven, let’s start there. Acts 16:25-34 is the account of Paul and Silas being placed in prison, and at midnight, they were praying and singing hymns to God. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the foundation was shaken, and all the doors were open, and everyone’s chains were loosed too. The keeper feared the worst, that the prisoners were gone, and he knew they would kill him because of it, so he grabbed a sword to kill himself, and Paul stops him, letting him know that everyone was there. The keeper got a light and said in verses 29-30, “The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
A Call to Action!
The bottom line for me from the radio question asked by the young lady is not what I am going to do if some of my loved ones are not in heaven, but what I can do now, while they (my family) and others are still alive. It was a call to action, not just words. God wants us to do more. Matthew 9:37-38 says, “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Evangelism is a vital part of any ministry and all believers, and also, if you have been listening beyond the chatter on the earth, the Lord is saying, “Get the people, the nations saved, get them ready.”
Time to Witness!
Reading the Book of Acts is a great place to start and meditate. Let’s move back to Acts and see how Paul and Silas witness to the Philippian Jailer and get his entire family saved.
In Acts 16:31-34 AMPC
“And they answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ [give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved, [and this applies both to] you and your household as well.
32 And they declared the Word of the Lord [the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] to him and to all who were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and bathed [them because of their bloody] wounds, and he was baptized immediately and all [the members of] his [household].
34 Then he took them up into his house and set food before them; and he leaped much for joy and exulted with all his family that he believed in God [accepting and joyously welcoming what He had made known through Christ].
Remember, the atmosphere was already set with prayers and singing hymns unto the Lord. We should be prayed up too. Know the Word, grab a book, or join the evangelism team. Tell them that God loves them, John 3:16. Pick up some tracks on salvation. Sometimes, all you have to do is give them the track (but know what it says so that you can answer any questions). Invite people to go to church with you and let the Word do the work. Don’t push. Remember, salvation is a choice. If they don’t receive, know that you’ve just planted or watered a seed. Let the Holy Spirit lead you but be intentional.
The fact that hell is a real place is not realized or not taken as serious as it should be. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 in the Living Bible makes it real clear. “ bringing judgment on those who do not wish to know God and who refuse to accept his plan to save them through our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 They will be punished in everlasting hell, forever separated from the Lord, never to see the glory of his power” They use to tell us growing up “Eternity is too long and hell is too hot.”
Revive our Hearts, Lord!
Lord Jesus, restore, infuse life and strength into us for the end-time harvest. Rekindle the fires of revival, let us see breakthroughs in prayer, worship, salvation, healing, and the preached Word of God. Lord Jesus, bring revival to the body of Christ, to us individually and collectively. Let us seize opportunities to lead and restore people to You. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
Theresa Woodard
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