Rescued

“SIR, I HAVE GIRLS TO SELL! VERY CHEAP!” When the sleazy man approached my husband on the street, Bob’s only thought was that he must rescue the girls. He quickly reached for his wallet and purchased all of them. The youngest was only five.

This sovereign rescue occurred years ago in a semiclosed country where our family ministers. Since then, many girls have been rescued, not only from a life of trafficking but also from worshiping the evil gods of their country’s religion. By the grace of our loving God and the help of our son Tim’s foundation, we built a beautiful safe house that serves as a boarding school and a home to many rescued girls. Each year when we visit, the incredible transformation in the girls touches our hearts like few other life experiences. With the support of loving Christian houseparents, the girls become more secure and less fearful. They begin to believe that they are safe, loved by God, and accepted by other believers.

Rescue is a theme for my life too. I was never trafficked, but I needed to be rescued. The Greek word for to rescue is also translated to save or to deliver. I was saved and delivered from a vain, self-absorbed life, focused on the worship of me. If you know Jesus, then you were rescued from the clutches of the enemy too. Colossians 1:13-14 tells us, “He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Bob paid a few hundred dollars for each girl, but our God sacrificed the life of His Son to rescue you and me. Our response to the One who rescued us from life apart from Him should be overwhelming gratitude and the determination to cry for continued rescue when we are in trouble.

There are many verses in the Psalms that deal with God rescuing people who cry out to Him. When I need rescuing, I have two favorite verses that I pray. One is Psalm 31:2: “Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me.” The other is Psalm 50:15: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”

I take this last verse literally and call on the Lord to rescue me every day, many times a day. This week, for example, the Lord rescued me when I misplaced something important. When I couldn’t recall a person’s name. When I was exhausted and needed energy to keep going. When I needed grace to ignore a critical comment. When I needed to give edifying messages at two events. When I spent a rare free Saturday catching up on paperwork and needed help to combat my tendency to complain.

I also require daily rescue from pride, vanity, selfishness, impatience, negative attitudes, and thoughtless speech. In response to His rescue, I’m very aware of God’s involvement in every aspect of my life. My heartfelt response is to give Him the glory He alone deserves.

Each time Bob and I visit the safe house for rescued girls, we bring the girls a variety of gifts, both necessities and special treats. In preparation for our visit, they prepare songs in English to express their gratitude. I leave convicted that I don’t always thank the Lord for rescuing me. When I focus on the grace He freely gives to someone like me who did nothing to deserve it, I have a desire to pass His grace on to others—just like we pass out gifts to our precious rescued girls.

REFLECTION

Memorize Psalm 31:2, Psalm 50:15, or another favorite “rescue verse” to take with you wherever you go in life as a reminder that God is always ready to help you. What have you already been rescued from? Take time to thank the Lord for rescuing you from your past and also for His plans “to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Then remind yourself that He is standing by to rescue you every moment of every day. Apply this great truth to your life today and share God’s rescue plan with the people you love.