Devotionals

---

A few weeks ago my son and I were strolling the beach in Saint Augustine, Florida. I had gone down to visit my daughter there for her graduation. Josh and I decided to go to the beach when Crissy was called into work.

As we walked toward the NO SWIM zone there were hardly any people around. We were enjoying the waves and the solitude that only a beachfront can bring. While we were walking we suddenly heard a man cry out for help. Looking out toward the waves we saw a man flailing his arms. We both were unsure if the man was actually serious about it. We decided to act upon it as my son jumped into the waves and swam out to rescue the man. The man was apparently worn out. He had been caught in an under tow for quite awhile and he had no strength left. Knowing CPR, I assessed his vitals. His heart rate was naturally high and his breathing was labored, but he had not swallowed any water. He complained of leg cramps, so I administered some care there, but he was fine.

Afterward the man thanked us over and over again. The chances of us being there at that particular time was pretty slim, being that we were in the no swim zone and it was already after 6:00 p.m. We were so thankful that God had ordained our footsteps to be there at the right time. We were sure that man would have never made it out alive.

As I looked back at that moment, I think of how people are constantly crying out for help all around us. No, they may not be flailing their arms and yelling for help audibly, but nevertheless, they are in need of help. Some of us act like Josh and I did. We looked at the situation and wondered if that person really needed help before deciding to jump into the waves that were apparently overcoming him.

Sharing Christ with others sometimes means taking desperate measures in affirming their safety. Many of us will sit back and wonder if the person really needs to know Jesus before we decide to do anything about it. As that man was gasping for air to live that day I realized people are gasping for true life, daily. It could be the person who sits on the subway next to you, or the woman in the grocery store whom you are standing in line with. These people are everywhere.

I recently was in the hospital where I had a breast biopsy done. The nurse told me her main job was to keep me positive and uplifted. Then she told me that she was the one who felt positive and up lifted after being in the room with me. I was so thankful for the peace that God had given me.

The night before my daughter's graduation I discovered I might need the surgery. God led me to the passage in Matthew 6: 25-32 The Lord is telling us not to worry about anything. But the one thing that I read that changed my whole outlook on this situation was verses 31-32

"So do not worry saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Matthew 6: 31-32 (NIV)

Our Father has not forgotten one thing that we need. That is when I realized that He had not forgotten me and my evident need at that moment. My spirit is at peace regardless of what my tomorrow may hold. I have peace in knowing this one truth. My Father has not forgotten me!

So in taking that one step farther, we must not forget those around us who do not know the love of Christ and His purpose for their lives. We can be so caught up in our own needs that the cries of those drowning around us can go unnoticed. We find ourselves trying to assess the situation spiritually before acting on the basic need of all humanity, life. We, knowing the way, the truth and the life, have nothing left to assess. We need only share that God in all His goodness has not forgotten our need, and we in return must not forget the need of so many around us.

I learned a deep lesson from that helpless man who had surfaced, crying out and trusting that men would help him that day. I've learned that I cannot live my life trusting in men, but I can willingly die, living for God!

Copyright 2004 Jane E. Morin

Beside Still Water Devotions
http://besidestillwater.faithweb.com
P.O. Box 904
Brighton, Co 80601

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE