None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him—For the redemption of their souls is costly. ~Psalm 49:7-8a

There are people that I would like to shake in order to wake them up and make them realize how much they miss when they reject Christ, but that would be counterproductive. The only thing I can do is pray that God will draw them so they will one day desire to know a God who cares more about them than they can imagine.

I wonder if the Psalmist knew just how costly our ransom would be. As much as I cry for those who don’t know Him, I cry more for those who “have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God,” yet still fall away, thereby crucifying Jesus all over again (Hebrews 6:4-6).

Here in the West we tend to lose sight of Christ’s sacrifice. Life is about making money so we can live in ease and comfort. Few of us have truly been persecuted for our faith, often because we don’t talk about it. When heartache or even inconvenience comes, many decide to “get mad at God” or “deconstruct,” when His love and presence could get them through those trying times.

Christians aren’t perfect, but Christ is. He is still the answer to every problem we face. He longs for people to turn to Him, to experience the fellowship that He created us for. He grieves for those who continue to spit in His face. It may feel good to live for your own pleasure while saying an occasional prayer or hanging out with Christians once in a while, but God is not deceived. He knows those who truly desire to please Him.

Is that your heart today? Do you earnestly desire to know Him better and follow Him wherever He leads? Or do you prefer worldly entertainment and “friends” who don’t judge or call you up to something?

In Revelation 3, Jesus told the Laodicean church: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (vv. 15-17).

I believe this describes most of the American church. We have everything we could ever want, and we forget that Jesus is what we really need.

Father, I pray for your people throughout the world. Help us to truly surrender all, to love you above all else, to understand that we need you as much as we need food and water. Help us to forsake our sins and habits that displease you and to honor you fully, to pray with the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).