“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” 1 Timothy 2:1

There are 7.59 billion people in the world, over 17,000 people groups, and several thousand different languages spoken. 41.5% of the world’s population make up unreached people groups. That’s about 3.14 billion people who have yet to hear the gospel message.[1] Add to that the billions of people in the world who have heard the gospel, but who have not yet trusted Jesus as their personal Savior. Some of them live right here in our town, share our office spaces, and even call us friends. God cares about every single one of them just as much as He cares about those who are already following Jesus.

When Paul wrote 1 Timothy, the cruel emperor Nero was persecuting Christians. It would have been difficult for believers to consider that God wanted them to pray for unbelievers while they themselves were facing such horrific treatment, much less that He might desire for such an evil man as Nero to be saved. But God did want them to pray for unbelievers, and even that Nero would turn to Jesus in faith.

God still wants believers to pray for unbelievers in any and every circumstance. The gospel message is for everyone. God loves the whole world and sent His Son as a sacrifice for the sins of every person. No one is excluded from His heart of redemption. Will we be people who desire what God desires, are broken for the lost, and pray that they might come to salvation in Christ?

• What thoughts or situations make it difficult for you to pray for unbelievers?

• Pray: On a small piece of paper or notecard, write the names of three non-believers for whom you will commit to pray. Put it in a place that will remind you daily to pray that God would draw them to Himself, making them open to the gospel, broken over their sin, and realize their need for salvation in Christ.

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[1] “Joshua Project.” Joshua Project. Accessed February 15, 2019. https://joshuaproject.net/.