Rescue the Perishing

Have you ever thought of why it is called "being saved?" 

When you think of the true meaning of being 'SAVED', you must first imagine someone in distress, danger, trouble, fear, etc. Someone must be in the midst of a storm, or they don't need saving. 

We ALL need saving, because we are all born into sin (Thanks to Adam and Eve's fall in the garden of Eden). 

[Romans 3:23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

We all need salvation, rescue, a helping hand. Even when we are born again by the blood of Jesus Christ, we still  slip and occasionally need our fellow brethren to help pull us along. 

If you are a saved individual, you are not off the ship, you are just out of the water. Don't stop looking out in the sea. Your commission is to rescue the perishing.

Rescue at Sea

-anonymous 

Years ago, in a small fishing village in Holland, a young boy taught the world about the rewards of unselfish service. Because the entire village revolved around the fishing industry, a volunteer rescue team was needed in cases of emergency. One night the winds raged, the clouds burst and a gale force storm capsized a fishing boat at sea. Stranded and in trouble, the crew sent out the S.O.S. The captain of the rescue rowboat team sounded the alarm and the villagers assembled in the town square overlooking the bay. While the team launched their rowboat and fought their way through the wild waves, the villagers waited restlessly on the beach, holding lanterns to light the way back.

An hour later, the rescue boat reappeared through the fog and the cheering villagers ran to greet them. Falling exhausted on the sand, the volunteers reported that the rescue boat could not hold any more passengers and they had to leave one man behind. Even one more passenger would have surely capsized the rescue boat and all would have been lost.

Frantically, the captain called for another volunteer team to go after the lone survivor. Sixteen-year-old Hans stepped forward. His mother grabbed his arm, pleading, "Please don’t go. Your father died in a shipwreck 10 years ago and your older brother, Paul, has been lost at sea for three weeks. Hans, you are all I have left."

Hans replied, "Mother, I have to go. What if everyone said, ‘I can’t go, let someone else do it?’ Mother, this time I have to do my duty. When the call for service comes, we all need to take our turn and do our part." Hans kissed his mother, joined the team and disappeared into the night.

Another hour passed, which seemed to Hans’ mother like an eternity. Finally, the rescue boat darted through the fog with Hans standing up in the bow. Cupping his hands, the captain called, "Did you find the lost man?" Barely able to contain himself, Hans excitedly yelled back, "Yes, we found him. Tell my mother it’s my older brother, Paul!"

If he hadn't stepped out in faith, he may have never seen his brother come to safety. 

1. Get saved if you aren't already. Jesus is there to pull you back on the boat.

2. If you are saved, help save others. You may be their only chance. 

Remember and Thirst

Psalm 143:
[5] I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
[6] I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.


Never forget what God has done for you. Remember the days of old. Meditate on the works that God has done for you. He has performed mighty miracles throughout Bible history, and He is still the same God in 2011. We cannot let ourselves get to the point where we start making God smaller, or putting Him in a box. He is all mighty and all powerful. He will reign forever. The second we start putting limits on Him and undermining the power, is the very second that we lose out. When we begin to put the human race as more important than God, we lose out.
Think about it: God created everything on the earth. Now, How could we put a creation above the Creator himself? It isn't logical.

Once we have found and can maintain the mindset of His marvelous works and wonder, we will thirst after His righteousness, power, glory, pleasure, joy, knowledge, wisdom, comfort, peace, mercy, goodness, etc. We will not be able to go weeks without kneeling down in prayer. We will not be able to go days without reading God's word. Do you ever wonder why God used the word "thirst" in the Bible to explain our desire for Him? A human can only survive 2-10 days with NO water (variations based on temperature, health conditions, etc.). Someone will literally dehydrate and die if they do not get enough to drink. Can you imagine how thirsty you would be if you went that long with no water? Now, compare this to spiritually. We cannot afford to go very long without tasting the Word and the Lord's goodness. We will spiritually dehydrate.

Summary:
Do not put limits on God. Remember His marvelous works. Don't forget what He has brought you through.
Thirst after those good things that He has done. Don't sell yourself short, His wonders go forevermore.
If you go too long, you will spiritually dehydrate.

His Mercy Endureth Forever

Pss.136

[1] O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[2] O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[3] O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[4] To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[5] To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[6] To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[7] To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
[8] The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
[9] The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[10] To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
[11] And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
[12] With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[13] To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
[14] And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
[15] But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[16] To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[17] To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
[18] And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
[19] Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
[20] And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
[21] And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
[22] Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[23] Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
[24] And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[25] Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
[26] O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.


Do you see the common theme here? God's mercy endures forever.
Mercy can be defined as a leniency, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, alleviation of distress, etc.
Basically, the God of everything, the Creator of everything, the Highest of High has compassion upon you over and over. We (mankind) fail Him repeatedly and He still has mercy on us. We need to lay hold to His mercy and be thankful for it. Don't abuse it.
There will come a time when His mercy is cut off. Don't let it be too late.