Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Devotionals for the Heart: When Jesus Christ went on a rescue mission


The World's Greatest Rescue Mission
A devotional by Sarah Cole

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
–Galatians 1:3-5 (NIV)

At the end of the film Top Gun: Maverick, the futures of fighter pilots Maverick and Rooster are no longer in question.

Outgunned and out of hope, their lives flash before them when out of nowhere, their friend, Hangman, fires a missile that destroys the enemy's F-35 jet. Emerging from the thick black smoke, Hangman announces, “This is your savior speaking.” Maverick and Rooster smile and breathe a sigh of relief.

Most of us won't be in a dogfight anytime soon, but we have an enemy called sin that we can't outmaneuver. The Bible says our condition is terminal, the penalty is death (Romans 6:23), and we need a Savior to rescue us (John 3:16-17).

When Jesus Christ was born two thousand years ago, He put in motion a plan to rescue us from the power of sin and death. Because He was the Son of God, He could have chosen to save Himself by remaining in Heaven. But due to His perfect love, He gave His life to save us instead (John 3:16).

When it came time for Roman guards to crucify Jesus, the rulers mocked him after charging him with blasphemy for claiming He was the Messiah and would rise again. Except for John, all His disciples abandoned Him in fear and disbelief. Read the full story in the Bible (Mark 14). Yet, three days later, Jesus rose as He promised, and since then, the world has never been the same.

Maybe today you're in a dogfight of your own. You're out of options, Satan has you in his crosshairs, and all you can do is pray for a miracle. Whether you're battling cancer, divorce, or unemployment, hope is on the horizon. Because while it seems impossible to you, it's not to God. For His power is unlimited (Isaiah 40:25-26), His perspective on your situation is perfect (Psalm 147:5), and He is always right on time (Habakkuk 2:3).

So the next time Satan tells you it's too late, don't give up. When you least expect it, God will appear out of nowhere to destroy him.

Let's Pray:
Dear Savior (Jesus Christ), thank You for forgiving me and rescuing me from the power of sin and death. Your grace and mercy amaze me. When my circumstances leave me feeling powerless, instead of fighting in my limited strength, I will pray and wait for you to rescue me. You are always with me, and for that, I'm eternally grateful. In Jesus's Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Rescue Story” by Zach Williams. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Sarah Cole’s interest in writing began in grade school when her poem was published in the local paper. As she got older, her mother’s chronic illness inspired her to design a line of greeting cards. Since then, she has written for her college newspaper and two community newspapers where she wrote restaurant reviews and articles for their “Best of” spread. 


Her experience as an administrator in the marketing field gave her the opportunity to write ads for a local business journal.

After a 20-year detour and a three-year season of adversity, God reignited her passion to write. Two divine appointments later, the short story she wrote about her father appeared in the St. Paul Almanac, and a short story about Gigi (her Cocker Spaniel) was published in Guideposts (magazine) Mysterious Ways. She believes her adversity was worth the lessons God taught her.

Since 2022, Sarah’s devotionals have been published in The Secret Place by Judson Press, as well as David C. Cook’s Devotions and The Quiet Hour. To this day, she smiles, pinches herself and gives God all the glory.

When she’s not writing, Sarah enjoys watching cooking shows, designing cards and mugs, and taking day trips.

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Connect with Sarah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smittyc65
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@SarahCo45835279
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.cole.52

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