Rescue

Friday March 6, 2015

In discussing the premise of the film The Amazing Spider-Man, director Marc Webb writes, "This is the stuff of classic tragedy. It´s about trying to do good, and by virtue of trying to do good, bad things happen. It´s what [the mythical Greek King] Oedipus does - he goes out and tries to save the city, and he ends up sleeping with his mother." Webb laughs. "His efforts are noble! But the irony of it is that he causes damage by trying to do good. That is, to me, the most resonant thing of tragedy. Spider-Man is saving people and the world, but it´s at his own expense."

In writing about how to serve others, When Helping Hurts author Brian Fikkert says, "The.... church should have a profound sense of urgency to spend ourselves 'on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed.' "

Fikkert says we should remember, however, that "good intentions are not enough. It is possible to hurt poor people and ourselves, in the process of trying to help them."

I believe that every good deed I´ve been part of in East Africa, where I live, has traces of things that went wrong or were counter productive. For example, by giving a child a scholarship to attend a school, I created a temptation for his father to stop working and providing for his son.

However, through serving, giving and doing we can play a part in expressing God´s love to others - joining Him in doing good, seeking judgement and relieving the oppressed (Isaiah 1:17). We can do the right things, even though at times imperfectly (Psalms 34:15).

May we reflect the heart of God as we reach out to those in need, living out His loving, compassionate, rescuing ways (vv. 6, 17-19, 22). - Roxanne Robbins

Read
Psalm 34:1-22
I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
my soul will boast in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles. 
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves life 
and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.
Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the broken hearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

2 Corinthians 1:9-10
Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.

Question to Ponder
What steps can you take to follow God´s wisdom and lead in helping others?
How has He rescued you?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Mar 2015 - May 2015 issue