On 7 September 1838, Grace Darling, the daughter of an English lighthouse keeper, spotted a shipwreck and survivors offshore. She and her father bravely rowed their boat a mile through rough waters to rescue several people. Grace became a legend for her compassionate heart and steady hand in risking her life to rescue others.

The apostle Paul tells us of another man and woman team who took risks to rescue others. He wrote about Priscilla and Aquila, his fellow workers in Christ, who “risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles” (Rom. 16:3-4).

We are not told exactly what risk Paul was referring to, but with beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks and threats of death so common to Paul’s ministry, it’s not hard to see how this couple could have put themselves in harm’s way to help their friend. Apparently Paul’s rescue was more important to them than their own safety.

Rescuing others—whether from physical or spiritual danger—often carries a risk. But when we take a risk by reaching out to others, we show the character of our Saviour who gave up so much for us.

Author

Dennis Fisher

Topics

Our Daily Bread