God’s Rescue Mission

Joining God’s Rescue Mission

A few days ago, I had just gotten home when I received a text from our neighbor.

It wasn’t good news.

There’s a ranch located behind us and a coyote had gotten ahold of a newborn calf.

The baby’s hindquarters were clawed through. The calf was on the ground, defenseless and barely breathing.

The mama cow was standing over her baby making the most agonizing distress cry.

I felt sick to my stomach.

We all sprang into action making phone calls to our local game warden and the sheriff’s office.

If at all possible, we wanted to try to help save this calf.

The officers arrived and headed over to the pasture.

Sadly, it was too late, the injuries were life-threatening.

I couldn’t watch.

A loud gunshot rang out as an officer put the little one out of its misery.

Some might say it’s just the “circle of life”, and that’s true for the animal kingdom.

But, as far as human lives are concerned, as believers we can’t just sit back and watch a population of lost sinners lose their eternity because no one bothered to tell them about Jesus.

We are part of God’s rescue mission for mankind.

A Call To Harvest

In the following passage, Jesus was speaking directly to the disciples – a call for them to take the gospel message to the people.

As believers, we are to carry His life-saving message as well.

There’s still time.  

And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.Luke 10:2, (NASB).1

God’s Rescue Mission

Only our Savior, Jesus Christ, can ultimately save lost sinners.

It is our responsibility as believers to take His life-saving message of salvation to our circle of influence.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the right words to say when starting that all important conversation with an unbeliever.

God's rescue mission

Who is on your heart right now who needs to know Jesus?

Is it your husband or wife?

Your kids?

Another relative?

Your best friend?

If you don’t think it’s the right time to do that, pray for the right time. Ask our Heavenly Father for those open doors and opportunities!

He will hear you.

I see others online who continue to believe that, as long as a person is kind to others, God won’t send them to hell.

That’s not how it works.

From John 14:6:
Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.2

God didn’t send His only Son to the cross for us to simply be nice.

Follow Jesus

Consider the dear ones in your life.

Have you talked about Jesus in your home lately?

Do you know if your loved ones believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior?

Regarding their eternal life, it’s the most important question you could ask.

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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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The Big Picture

More Than Meets the Eye

Every morning, a beautiful hummingbird appears outside my office window.

It took us several days to get his picture because he won’t slow down to pose. 🙂

God's work in creation

Our hummingbird friend may be tiny, but his mighty wings are strong.

I love to watch him as he darts through our garden to check out every colorful flower and eagerly sample the nectar from each one.

That’s the kind of picture that I love to see.

What I hate to see, and wish was just a bad dream, is the accelerated downslide of America demonstrated by current events. What a sad picture this is for all of us and for generations to come.

Kinda seems like things are falling apart, right?

But, as we read the Bible and consider its prophecies, events are actually falling into place.

the big picture

There’s a big picture at work here, beyond the small details of each day.

There’s so much to say, but suffice it to say, as Christians we have to be watchful, pray every day for God’s grace and mercy, and stay in His Word.

The Big Picture in the Bible

As you study Scripture, over and over again you read about God’s people turning their backs on Him and plunging instead into idolatry.

An idol is anything we value more than God.

Just as in the ancient days, we still have idols today.

Consider the foolish obsession some people have with celebrities and you’ll see what I mean.

Some other modern-day idols can include . . .

The love of money

The love of things

Political causes

Substance abuse

Other people

Ourselves

obsessed with self

God takes idolatry very seriously.

Your salvation and recognition of Jesus alone as Savior is that important.

The alternative to Jesus, let’s not sugarcoat it, is hell.

Since you know the true God, and are in him, let your light and love guard you against all that is advanced in opposition to him, or competition with him. Flee from the false gods of the heathen world. They are not comparable to the God whose you are and whom you serve. Adore not your God by statues and images, which share in his worship. Your God is an incomprehensible Spirit, and is disgraced by such sordid representations.- Matthew Henry, Christian minister and author.2

We must examine our hearts and tear down the idols that we have.

There’s another big issue that God takes seriously.

Repentance.

Why do we have to repent if our sins are already forgiven?

That’s a great question.

We are sinners saved by grace, but that doesn’t mean we keep on sinning without a care and in blatant rebellion against God.

This is not a works-based issue. Salvation is reflected by a changed heart, remorse when we do wrong, and continual gratitude for God’s grace.

The Christian life is a life of continued repentance, humiliation for and mortification of sin, of continual faith in, thankfulness for, and love to the Redeemer, and hopeful joyful expectation of a day of glorious redemption, in which the believer shall be fully and finally acquitted, and sin abolished for ever. – Matthew Henry, Christian minister and author.3

Let’s be thankful for a loving and righteous God who forgives those who repent and believe.

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1 Scripture quotation is from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Matthew Henry quotation, courtesy of Bible Study Tools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/1-john/1.html., n.d., para. 6. Web. Accessed 15 July, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/1-john/5.html

3 Matthew Henry quotation, courtesy of Bible Study Tools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/1-john/1.html., n.d., para. 4. Web. Accessed 15 July, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/1-john/1.html

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