[The following is a manuscript of my brief devotional delivered on Sunday morning, the 29th of July, 2018 - the first Sunday following our annual Vacation Bible School. This Sunday we lifted our songs of praise to our Lord in a Congregational singing. Look for the video of this and other of our services on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
As our Vacation Bible School progressed through each day and each lesson, God’s Holy Spirit stirred me to consider just how often Jesus comes to our rescue. Our Bible is filled with many examples. One that quickly came to mind was when Peter tried walking on the surface of the sea like he saw Jesus doing. He was doing pretty good until he took his focus off Jesus and started worrying about the waves. Jesus had to reach out His hand to Peter and rescue him or the disciple would have drowned. We know God sent Jesus to save us spiritually, but here He saved Peter physically as well.
But the saving I’d like to look at came from Daniel’s experience in the lions’ den, when God rescued him from certain death. King Darius was very impressed, to say the least. Listen and follow along to what Darius did next, as reported by Daniel in chapter 6 of his book of prophesy, verses 25 through 27, reading from the New Living Translation of our Holy Bible, followed by a message from Jesus Himself, from John’s Gospel account, chapter 3, verses 16 and 17 from the New King James Version…
But the saving I’d like to look at came from Daniel’s experience in the lions’ den, when God rescued him from certain death. King Darius was very impressed, to say the least. Listen and follow along to what Darius did next, as reported by Daniel in chapter 6 of his book of prophesy, verses 25 through 27, reading from the New Living Translation of our Holy Bible, followed by a message from Jesus Himself, from John’s Gospel account, chapter 3, verses 16 and 17 from the New King James Version…
25 Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world:
“Peace and prosperity to you!
26 “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.
For He is the living God,
and He will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and His rule will never end.
27 He rescues and saves His people;
He performs miraculous signs and wonders
in the heavens and on earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
--Daniel 6:25-27 (NLT)
And from the Apostle John’s Gospel account…
God rescued Daniel from the lions’ den. Jesus rescued Peter from the sea. God showed His great love by sending His Son Jesus to rescue us all, to save us from ourselves and our lives of sin.
In Vacation Bible School we looked at some of the ways Jesus rescues us in our daily lives. On the first day we learned from Hope the jaguar that when we’re lonely, Jesus rescues. In Psalm 27 verse 10, King David tells us that the Lord will hold us close.
Next we learned from Beacon the Toucan that when we worry, Jesus rescues. David also supports this statement in Psalm 34 verse 19, saying that the Lord comes to our rescue each time. Not some times but each and every time!
On day three, Rae the manta ray assured us that when we struggle, Jesus rescues. The Sons of Korah told us how to react to our struggles, in Psalm 46 verse 10, when they spoke for our Lord, saying, “Be still, and know that I am God.” When we struggle, we should just settle down, be still, and know that God is at work in our lives. Be still, and let Jesus rescue us.
The fourth day introduced us to Guac the iguana, who reassured us that even when we do wrong, Jesus rescues. Now, Jesus promised that in this life we are going to make mistakes, bad things are going to happen to us. That’s just the way it’s going to be. In the Apostle John’s Gospel account, Jesus says, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
On our last day of Bible school, Moe the sloth told us that when we feel out of control, when we’re utterly powerless, Jesus rescues. The Apostle Paul explains how, in his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1, verses 19 and 20 when he writes, “This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.” Jesus will use the same power that was used to raise Him from the dead to rescue us when we have no power to save ourselves.
When we’re lonely, when we worry, when we struggle, when we do wrong, when we are powerless… Jesus rescues us. Praise the Lord! In the name of Christ Jesus, our Rescuer. Amen.
16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
--John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
In Vacation Bible School we looked at some of the ways Jesus rescues us in our daily lives. On the first day we learned from Hope the jaguar that when we’re lonely, Jesus rescues. In Psalm 27 verse 10, King David tells us that the Lord will hold us close.
Next we learned from Beacon the Toucan that when we worry, Jesus rescues. David also supports this statement in Psalm 34 verse 19, saying that the Lord comes to our rescue each time. Not some times but each and every time!
On day three, Rae the manta ray assured us that when we struggle, Jesus rescues. The Sons of Korah told us how to react to our struggles, in Psalm 46 verse 10, when they spoke for our Lord, saying, “Be still, and know that I am God.” When we struggle, we should just settle down, be still, and know that God is at work in our lives. Be still, and let Jesus rescue us.
The fourth day introduced us to Guac the iguana, who reassured us that even when we do wrong, Jesus rescues. Now, Jesus promised that in this life we are going to make mistakes, bad things are going to happen to us. That’s just the way it’s going to be. In the Apostle John’s Gospel account, Jesus says, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
On our last day of Bible school, Moe the sloth told us that when we feel out of control, when we’re utterly powerless, Jesus rescues. The Apostle Paul explains how, in his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1, verses 19 and 20 when he writes, “This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.” Jesus will use the same power that was used to raise Him from the dead to rescue us when we have no power to save ourselves.
When we’re lonely, when we worry, when we struggle, when we do wrong, when we are powerless… Jesus rescues us. Praise the Lord! In the name of Christ Jesus, our Rescuer. Amen.
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