But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Dr. Jeremy Kilburn has been a trauma surgeon in Afghanistan.

Unfortunately, when his German Shepherd ran in front of him on a remote hiking trail, Dr. Kilburn's skill as an M.D. didn't save him from bruising his ankle and breaking his leg.

Help was called for and the California Highway Patrol sent a helicopter manned by Officer Brian Henderson and Paramedic Officer Tony Stanley.

The chopper landed; the motor was shut off; the officers got out and waited for the blades to stop turning. Unfortunately, as the blades stopped turning, they drooped. One of those drooping blades nailed Officer Stanley in the back of the head.

Dropped him like a stone. Blood gushed from his skull.

Dr. Kilburn knew how to handle the situation, but he was over 50 yards away, and he still had that broken leg and the damaged ankle. So, what should or could be done?

Kilburn's lifelong friend Dan Grasso got the doctor to his feet and helped him hop those 50 yards to help the downed officer. Then Kilburn served as medevac nurse, as the helicopter took off for the hospital.

Rushing to the end of the story: all survived and all are doing well. The rescued had become the rescuer.

Think about that for a moment, won't you? The rescued had become the rescuer.

Maybe you will agree with me when I say that sounds very much like a job description for Christians.

Because of our sins we desperately needed a rescue. Certainly, there was nothing we could do to help ourselves out of our predicament. So that we might be saved God sent His Son into this world to live, suffer, die and rise for us. Through His coming and sacrifice we are forgiven and are given salvation.

Sadly, there are others around us who are in need. There are people who, spiritually, are in dire straits. In Scripture we have been given the knowledge, the ability to help. More than that, we have been asked by our Savior to share with others what we have received from Him.

True, witnessing can be difficult; it can be painful; it can be embarrassing. It means we have to put ourselves on the line for someone else.

Still, it is what must be done. The Holy Spirit can put us in the best place to minister to an unbeliever's needs. How sad it would be if we stayed put and didn't share the wonders of God's grace and love.

So that's what we do. We witness. With our money, with our words, with our life we share that story of Jesus and His love. The Holy Spirit uses the rescued to become the rescuer.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, Jesus has rescued us. Now I pray You will use us to reach out to others in Your Name. This I pray in the Name of my living Redeemer. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: 1 Chronicles 13-15    1 Corinthians 9

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