What Would You Do?

TITLE: What Would You Do
DATE:  July 2, 2019
TEXT:. Ephesians 4:1-5 - ESV - I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed. How far would you go; what would you be willing to do to save somebody’s life?

To a large extent, at least for most of us, the answer to that question probably depends on whose life we’re saving. Although it doesn’t sound very Christian, most of us probably know a few people that we might not want to save at all. So, how far would you go? Let’s put you into a story, shall we?

Over 30,000 people died in a 1989 earthquake that hit the country of Armenia. One father was filled with an overpowering desire: to find his son. He raced to his boy’s school and found it had been leveled. As he stood looking at the wreckage, he remembered a promise he had made. Dad regularly said, “Son, no matter what, I'll always be there for you.¨

The father went to the back corner of the building, where his son’s classroom had been. He began to dig with his bare hands. Soon other parents arrived. They told him to be practical. He invited them to help dig. They went away, he dug alone. Would you have joined him?

A police officer arrived and suggested our man ought to give up because he could easily get caught himself if some of the rubble shifted. The man invited the officer to help dig. The policeman went away, the man dug alone. Would you have joined him?

Eventfully the Head of the Fire Department came to the school. He talked to the man about gas pockets which might explode and kill him. The parent invited the fireman to join him. The fireman went away and the man dug alone. Would you have helped?

If so, how long would you have helped? Would you have been with Dad at the 8-hour mark of digging? How about 24? Normal people would have gone home. Normal people needed to eat; to sleep, to recharge.  
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The father wanted to do all those things, but every time he was ready to do so, he remembered his promise and started over again. The man dug alone for 36 hours and still nothing.. But at hour 38, a day-and-a-half into the excavation, He heard his son’s voice. “Dad, it’s me, Dad! I told the other kids not to worry. I told ‘em if you were alive, you'd save me and when you saved me, you’d save them. You promised, “No matter what, I'll always be there for you!” You did it, Dad!’¨

I admire that man and his fierce desire to keep his promise.

I admire God for the same reason. So that we might be rescued from death He made a promise to send His Son to save us. When Jesus came into this world to fulfill that promise and be our Substitute, people didn’t like it. People tried to talk Him out of His work; the Devil tried to tempt Him; His enemies tried to kill Him.

What others did, didn’t make a difference. Jesus did all which was necessary to save our lives. Now, by the Holy Spirit’s power souls are being rescued.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for Jesus’ absolute commitment to Your plan and the salvation of our souls, I give thanks. While my faithfulness can never match His, I ask You use me to accomplish Your wishes with those around me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html