RESCUE!

Last week, at quite short notice, my services were commandeered to preach Sunday evening at church. I decided to stick with the Christmas theme, but from a different angle. I preached on the five women in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Several years ago, I had done each of these personages one sermon at a time—“Ladies-in-Waiting”. However, this time around, not having the luxury of five occasions to repeat this exercise, I collapsed the five sermons into one. Bold me!

The inclusion of these rather unlikely, uncongenial, unusual, and unflattering characters (and that’s putting it mildly) in the lineage of our Lord is, I believe, clear indication of the truth that God can use anybody … even you and me! God can use us, no matter who we are, what we are, and where we are; so let’s do something bold for Him this Christmas.

Do something bold for Christ. That was something I needed to hear. Especially in the arena of being a witness for the Lord. Do something bold for Christ. Go rescue some souls! The pathos of Fanny Crosby’s hymn hits hard. Let me quote it in full ….

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.
Fanny Crosby, 1869

Or as the Scriptures enjoin us …

And have mercy on some,
who are doubting;
save others,
snatching them out of the fire ….
Jude 22–23

Boldly engage the world. For the ministry of reconciliation has been entrusted to us …

… namely, that God was in Christ
reconciling the world to Himself,
… and He has committed to us
the word of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are
ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were making
an appeal through us:
“we beg you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.”
2 Corinthians 5:19–20

Boldly we must engage the world. Not that we accomplish anything on our own, of course.

For God, who said,
"Light shall shine
out of darkness,"
is the One who has shone
in our hearts to give
the Light of the knowledge
of the glory of God
in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure
in earthen vessels,
so that the surpassing greatness
of the power will be of God
and not from ourselves.
2 Corinthians 4:6–7

May He take what we have to offer—our pitiful portions, our trembling testimonies, unpolished, unskilled, and unsound—and utilize them for the furtherance His Kingdom, for exaltation of His glory.

Boldly engage the world. And why not do so this Christmas?

P.S. That picture is not a recent one. Just looking at it warms me up in these dreary, dull, dark, damp days of winter.