Our Deliverer

When Paul was in Asia, he suffered great persecution. He wrote… “We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from so great a death and continues to deliver us: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:8-10).

The word for “deliver” means “to rush to one in need, draw to oneself, and rescue.”  It is used in the past, present, and future tense to comfort us.  By the blood of His Cross, Jesus rescued us from “so great a death”, meaning Hell. He continues to rescue us from present trials as we serve Him. And He will yet rescue us from this present evil world at the Rapture.

King David wrote of this great comfort… “My eyes are ever toward the Lord; for He shall pluck my feet out of the net they have secretly laid for me.” And this is our sweet comfort today… “You turned to God from idols, to serve the Living and True God, and to wait for His Son from Heaven, JESUS, our Deliverer from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9,10).

What blessed hope we have. Our Deliverer is coming.

(Devotional by Lisa Cataford)