Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8
The news yesterday told of a man, a firefighter, risking his life to save a woman who had somehow climbed up a work crane 150 feet up and had managed to get on the hook dangling from the crane line. Robert being the most agile and experienced climber was selected for this daring rescue. Listening to an interview last night he spoke of how scary it was but he showed no indication that he was put out or angry with the woman for her act of stupidity. He honestly and truly was grateful to be helping her. His sincerity and passion for his job and explaining the rescue displayed to me his pure heart. When he was suspended 150 feet in the air next to her having a conversation, she had to make the choice to be helped, if she refused she would most likely have fallen.He even said he after rescuing her told her that if she was fined he would foot her fines. he wasn’t looking for a reward, nor a pat on the back, no he wanted to go even farther and show this woman even more grace.
Isn’t the Christian experience with Jesus very similar to that? Jesus was selected by God to be our rescuer. He made the daring and heroic effort to come to where we are. As he suspends himself next to us in our condition he asks us to trust him and his rescue, he wants us to jump into his arms and know his love. the amazing part is he isn’t done once we are rescued. he wants to give us so much more, life abundantly. he only asks for one thing in return, take the love you have experienced and share it with other revealing to them that they too can be rescued from their predicaments.
Would you risk your life to save another? Would you share your faith to save someone from an eternity without God? We are called to do both. When we love one another and Love our neighbours as ourselves we will start to do these things as second nature. Jesus didn’t hesitate to rescue you.
Jesus, give me a pure heart to be able to see others as you do. let me see their need of you and tell them about how you rescued me. I pray that we could all have the courage to save someone’s physical life as well as their spiritual condition. Give us opportunities to share your love each and ever day. let it not be a surprise to us that someone needs Jesus, but something we expect to encounter daily. They matter to you so they matter to me. Amen
50 Days of Pray 