What Is Rescue?

Read This:

'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41:10

Think:

As a kid, my first concept of rescue was in the broad sense of it. Things like Rescue Rangers or He-Man. Basically, any animated situation where there was an obvious good guy, an obvious bad guy and an obvious person in need of rescue. These setups were the ways where I pieced together the idea of rescue.

But as I’ve grown, I’ve understood that it isn’t quite that simple. The situations requiring rescue aren’t always so obvious, the good guys aren’t always so good, the bad guys aren’t always so bad and the people needing saving aren’t always so obvious.

The reality of rescue as it refers to real life is that it’s actually quite muddled. And so, the idea of rescue evolved in my mind. Especially as it referred to my faith.

When I accepted salvation, the notion of rescue was contained in that iconic image of Christ on the cross, rescuing me from Hell. That idea and concept defined my understanding of rescue as it related to my faith. I mean, what else could “rescue” possibly mean beyond the Savior of the Universe defeating sin by sacrificing himself?

What I missed though and what I’ve been missing is that God was rescuing me in all kinds of smaller ways too. And he still is.

What’s so heroic and vivid about Jesus is that he is able to rescue you in both big and small ways: The life-defining crisis or the momentary anxiety. He covers all of it and His strength is sufficient no matter how large or small the weakness.

Rescue. We’ve all felt a need for it. Maybe you are feeling that need now or maybe you are desperately looking for someone or something to save you from your situation. No matter where you land in relation to rescue, know that God is all about rescue. And he’s all about you, too. No one else loves you more and wants to rescue you more than He does.

So why not let Him?

Ask: What are some ways you’ve been rescued that you’ve taken for granted? How can you offer some sense of rescue to others?

Pray: God, you are the ultimate source of rescue. I thank you and praise you for how you always know just what we need no matter how big or how little. I pray for wisdom to always recognize and appreciate the ways you rescue me and I pray for opportunities to help in the rescue of others for you. Amen.