September 3 devotion - Rescue Me

Psalm 144:11  Rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.

            A couple of years ago, some people posted on Facebook a tragic picture of a child who had been drowned by the shores of the Mediterranean. The wee lad just looked as though he was sleeping. He was only about 2-3 years old. His parents had been trying to flee Syria from the ISIS terrorists. Thousands of people had been filling boats and small ships to over-capacity, as they tried to escape to European lands where they hoped to be granted asylum. It was a terrible tragedy because hundreds of these migrants drowned due to their vessels capsizing. They fled for their lives, carrying whatever they could, trying to protect their families, only to drown in the stormy Mediterranean seas.

            The fleeing people were looking to the rest of the world to help them in their plight. They were desperately seeking safety and sanctuary, in the face of an unrestrained evil army of thugs and fanatics, the likes of which the world had not seen since the Serbian-Croatian conflict decades ago.

            For the sake of those fleeing migrants and others like them today – powerless men, women, and children – the political leaders of the nations need to offer more help, better placement, and, ultimately, more protection against oppression. If nothing more is done, then we will sadly see more infants’ bodies on Mediterranean shores, desert wastelands, and border crossings. As Christians, we need to rescue, embrace, and support all those who flee; we need to protect and care for those who are desperately seeking asylum.

Question for reflection

How would I feel if my family was endangered by fanatics? Where would I go to flee the danger?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, open our nations to receive those who are fleeing from evil. Challenge us into caring for the least among us and the most scared around us. Remind us that to do nothing will enable evil to prevail. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM - you will be made very welcome :)

Today’s image is one of John’s church bulletin cover drawings based on the words of Psalm 125. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Psalm 125.