Have you ever offered something to someone that they didn’t want? Recently, I was shopping at our local grocery store (Aldi) and I was taking my cart back to the rack near the entrance. As I approached, I saw a guy looking for a quarter in his pocket. If you’ve ever shopped at Aldi before, you know that the carts have a little slot for a quarter. In order to get a cart, you put the quarter in. Assuming you return the cart back to the rack, you can get your quarter back. Carolyn and I like to try and find someone to give the cart to so that we can do something nice for someone, saving them a quarter.
As a approached the man, I offered my cart to him. He told me that he didn’t want it and would just look for a quarter in his pocket. Knowing he was having a tough time locating a quarter, I again offered the cart. He insisted that he was fine, and didn’t need my help. I left the cart at his side (my quarter still in it), and walked back to my car. As I was driving out of the parking lot, I saw the man still digging in his pocket, struggling to locate a quarter for a cart. Right next to him, the answer to his question remained. He simply refused to accept the gift.
There are so many times that I feel like that man. I’m too proud to accept help, or too blind to see that I need it. Spiritually speaking, I pretty much think I have things under control most of the time. Unfortunately, it’s during those times that I need help most. I’m blinded by whatever currently ails me, and I can’t see that I need to be rescued from myself.
This week, think about what being “rescued” means. Do you feel like you need to be rescued? If so, what do you need to be rescued from? What would that look like for you?
Romans 6:5-14
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What I need to be rescued from is my tongue
We all stumble in many ways. If we are never at fault in what we say, we are able to keep our whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the captain wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider when a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of her life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. This should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (James 3:2-12) Our tongue speaks what is in our heart. The LORD, knows and see’s our hearts. I need to be rescued, do you?