Devotion / Needed: Heroic Friends
Devastation
How many video clips of the Hurricane Helene disaster did you watch? My wife and I sat in shock at the unfolding devastation. All the cell phone videos, the drone shots, the news reports. It was overwhelming! Prayers for those caught in that horrific situation!
Heroic responses
The days following saw many stories of amazing heroic efforts that saved lives. When it is a matter of life or death, you’ve got to do whatever it takes. Living souls are at stake. You can’t sit idly by while those around you are facing imminent death.
From God’s Word, we know he calls on his people to be rescuers. Proverbs 24:11 tells us to rescue those being led away to death; Jude 24 calls us to snatch others from the fire and save them.
Real friends don’t give up
Remember the heroic friends in Mark 2. They had a paralyzed friend, and they knew that Jesus was his one hope! Since he could not move, those friends are this man’s only way of reaching Jesus. They became his arms and legs to bring him to Jesus! The house where Jesus was teaching was so crowded there seemed to be no way in. The doors were blocked; the windows inaccessible. But they don’t give up!
How could the paralyzed man get to Jesus? The Bible says, Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
The Great Rescuer
What great and heroic friends! Within minutes, Jesus had forgiven their friend’s sins and healed his paralysis. He walked out, enjoying a new life of forgiveness in Jesus!
The lost, struggling, and dying are around us right now... both in our neighborhoods and around the world. They need heroic rescuers. Friends who will share with them the good news of the great rescuer - Jesus Christ. Left on their own, they aren’t going to make it.
When the flood threatens, it’s a life or death situation. It’s got to be whatever it takes. Friends bring help when the waters rise . . . help not just for today’s world, but more importantly for the world to come. 316NOW works around the world to rescue those who are struggling and trapped in their sins. May God’s Holy Spirit inspire you to make a difference and share Jesus with souls who need his rescue.
PRAYER: Loving Lord, you rescued us from sure death. We can never thank you enough. Now help us to share your saving truth with those where we work, live, and play. Make us heroic friends willing to do whatever it takes in serving you and others.