Rescue the Perishing

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:9, NIV

When I taught at a physical therapy college, I would encourage my students to come to my cabin every day if they did not understand something we had covered in the classroom. After classes many of them would stand in line to ask their questions.

One evening I met with a student who patiently waited until everyone left. She wanted to talk but hesitated. I broke the silence and asked how her studies were going. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She could not answer. I gave her a loving hug.

She held me tight and started to cry bitterly.

She was from a wealthy family, but her busy parents never gave her attention. She longed for love and went looking for it in a twisted relationship with a married man. She knew it was wrong, and she desperately needed help to end it.

She asked if I would pray for her. I felt very empathetic toward this young woman and started counseling her. As I spent time with her and continued to pray for her, she responded well and was so receptive to the truth. It was such a blissful moment when she showed signs of change. And I rediscovered the fullness of the mission Jesus has given me. God is very interested in the salvation of every individual living in this world.

He tells us, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5, NIV). God has never ceased to work on our behalf. He invites us to be witnesses to the perishing who do not know Him.

He longs to use us. When we witness and pray with a burden for the lost, something always happens. People who do not know the truth matter so much to God that when they are found, all heaven rejoices and throws a party! There is more joy over one sinner coming to Jesus than over the ninety-nine people who are already in the fold.

If lost people matter this much to God, they should matter just as much to us. Are we willing to give everything needed to reach the lost? My friends, let us keep the faith, keep sharing, and keep praying. There are people around us in bondage to sin, drowning in desperation and longing for rescue. Please pray with me, “Here am I. Send me, oh Lord.”

Esther Synthia Murali