2 Timothy 4:17-18 (ESV)
But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the
message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was
rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and
bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and
ever. Amen.
Paul’s concept of rescue is eternal in perspective. He fully expects to die
at the hands of his Roman captors (see verses 6-8), yet he talks of being
rescued. His focus was not on being comfortable, but on knowing that the
Gentiles heard the gospel. We cry out, “Where is God? Why doesn’t he rescue me?”
But our focus is on being comfortable. Rescue means freeing me from this pain,
this discomfort, this horrible experience, these people who are attacking me.
For Paul rescue meant entering in the presence of God and it meant having the
opportunity to present the gospel. It makes me wonder if a change in priority
wouldn’t change our view of our own circumstances. What if our pain and our
uncomfortable experiences were opportunities to demonstrate the power of God?
What if they were opportunities to display characteristics of Christ like
patience, kindness, gentleness, and peace? What if they were opportunities to
bring about opportunities to share the gospel by causing people to ask how we
can endure with hearts of gratitude and love? Maybe God is not rescuing us
according to our version of rescue because he has a bigger rescue in mind. Maybe
we need to learn to trust him in the dark days because he is always there
working his purpose even when we cannot see him.
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