Rescued

Have you ever been rescued? Ever been in that desperate, vulnerable moment where your future was out of your control and in an other's hands? Has anyone ever put their life on the line to save yours? Let's take it a notch down and go with reputation or comfort or convenience or pride... has anyone ever set these things aside to preserve yours? I've experienced some of these situations. Now, how did you feel towards the person or people that put your needs before their own? Gratitude, perhaps?

I think of the young man that stopped to see if he was needed on that bitter cold, dark January night when I rolled my car and was stranded out in the country 10 miles from anything! I think of the woman that took the time to listen to my lonely, aching heart that led me to a relationship with Jesus.

In Paul's letter to the Romans, he is expressing these deep feelings of gratitude to a precious, devoted couple that rescued him from imminent danger - Priscilla and Aquila. They risked their own lives for his; either in Corinth at the uprising against Paul, when the Jews dragged him to the judgment seat of Gallio; or the uproar in Ephesus by Demetrius, when Paul and his comrades were in great danger. This zealous couple was present at both of these events and acted in great courage to preserve Paul's life. He is thankful and remembers his fellow workers with deep gratitude. The Gentile churches were obliged to be grateful as well since they, also, were greatly affected by Paul's labor in carrying on the work of the Lord in spreading the saving message of the Gospel.

"Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles." Romans 16:4 (preceded by v. 3 to complete the statement).

God has this same desire to rescue each one of us - to protect and preserve our lives so we may 1) be in relationship with Him and 2) do the labor in which He prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10).

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

Henry & Richard Blackaby illustrate this idea with a story in Experiencing God:

     Suppose you had to cross a field full of land mines, and a person who knew exactly where each one was buried offered to take you through it. Would you say to him, "I don't want you to tell me what to do. I have free will? I don't want you to impose your ways on me"?
     I don't know about you, but I would stay as close to that person as I could. I certainly would not wander off. His directions to me would preserve my life. He would say, "Don't go that way, because that way will kill you. Go this way, and you will live." 
     That is the purpose of God's commands. He wants you to receive life and have it abundantly. When the Lord gives you a command, He is trying to protect and preserve the best He has for you. He does not want you to lose it. When God gives a command, He is not restricting you. He is freeing you.

"And the LORD our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day." Deuteronomy 6:24

God takes it a step further to preserve our lives beyond this life on earth:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

As Paul was giving thanks for his rescuers, Priscilla and Aquila, we also owe a debt of gratitude to all who put their lives out in front of ours (if even for a moment) and primarily to God our loving Father who protects and preserves our lives now and into eternity.

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b