Daily Devotions
Are We Saving the Lost?
Reading for May 1st: 1 Chronicles 6
Weekly reading for April 26-May 2: Acts 11-15
"Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you..."
Acts 13:38
I read a story that was both inspiring and depressing. Chen Si is a Chinese man who has taken it on himself to try to save people who want to commit suicide. He spends his weekends patrolling the Nanjing Bridge looking for jumpers. He's saved 99 lives so far.
His help doesn't end with a conversation on the bridge either. He visits some of those he saves on the weekend, attempting to help them work through the problems that made them want to end their life.
However, at the end of the article the reporter commented on how Chen's burden grows with each person that he saves. "What should I do with the people I save? I don't have that much money," he says. "When I save people, I don't want to just cheat them into living another day."
This is the weakness of using physical solutions to fix a spiritual problem. We can help feed people. We can give them clothes and shelter. We can provide health care.
But what then? There is more to life than food and clothing. We were made for much more than this. To truly save people and give them true life, we must bring them to Jesus!
Father, we see people distressed, without life and without hope. Help us to show the love of Christ to them as we feed and clothe and minister to them in physical ways. But remind us that we've got something much more valuable than silver or gold... we have Jesus Christ! Give us the burden to share that with the souls we see on our bridge.
