LOOK: “We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally – not a bad idea since he’s the God who raised the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing.” 2 Corinthians 1:8,9 (The Message)
LEARN: Last week we witnessed a true rescue miracle. A plane lost both engines and landed on the Hudson River. All of the passengers and crew were immediately rescued and all returned to the safe warm, dry land. All over the news for the past several days, it promises to be an interesting story for weeks to come. I can’t wait to hear the pilot tell his first hand account of the harrowing incident. A truly remarkable pilot. A truly remarkable man.
As I watched scenes of the rescue over and over, I was struck by how nearby boats literally swarmed the downed plane. With one mission in mind they rushed to the scene, ready to pluck the waiting passengers out of the frigid water, rescuing them from certain doom. The passengers were unable to rescue themselves and were basically forced to trust others with their lives. I wonder if there was ever a time when they thought it was all over for them?
The images I saw of this incident reminded me of these verses in 2 Corinthians. Paul too, had undergone much suffering and hardship as he preached the Gospel through all Aisa. He had feared more than once for his life, thinking that it would soon be over. But instead, what happened? God came to his rescue time and time again and saved him from doom and destruction. The passengers on this plane were forced to trust others for their rescue. Paul tells us that we too, are often helpless and are forced to trust God for our rescue from a difficult or seemingly impossible situation. “Is that such a bad thing,” Paul asks? Maybe this was God’s plan from the beginning for those who claim to be followers of Jesus -to trust in God and not in ourselves during difficult times.
God delights in coming to our rescue. And when He does, He comes just at the right time. He promises to heal the sick, restore the ruined, and help the helpless. Take heart, my friends. He’s reaching down to rescue you.
LIVE: GOD REACHES DOWN TO RESCUE
1. Identify an area of your life where you need to trust God for a rescue.
2. Imagine what you hope your rescue might look like.
3. Sometimes God rescues us in ways other than how we think He might rescue us. How might you be aware of God’s rescue if it’s different than what you’re expecting?
4. Write a prayer asking God to open your eyes so that you will see Him coming to the rescue.
