Daily Devotions
Fixing the Ultimate Problem
Reading for November 15th: Acts 12-13
"Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you..."
Acts 13:38
Suicide has become a serious problem in China. It's the leading cause of death for Chinese men between the ages of 15 and 34. Many economic and societal factors have increased despair and hopelessness to the point that many Chinese simply decide to end it all.
I read a story about a man who is trying to do something about this. Chen Si is a manager of a transport company during the week, but on the weekends he spends his time patrolling the Nanjing Bridge looking for jumpers. He's saved 99 lives so far (at the time of the NPR article I read online).
Not only does he sacrifice his time to do this, in some cases he's risked his own life, leaning over the railing holding on to people by their arms. 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 human solutions to fix a spiritual problem. Even when we've done all we can to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and restore the sick to health, the root cause of this world's hopeless condition still remains.
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.
