Only One Way Out - Martin Wiles

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 NLT

Water swirled around my head and stifled my cries.

I enjoyed time with friends at a pool. Four of us floated on an intertube in the shallow end. As an eight-year-old, my parents had not taught me how to swim. But my friends wanted to go to the deep end.

As my grip loosened from the pool’s concrete edge—and the intertube pulled away—I slipped beneath the water. Before I succumbed, one of my friends jumped in and rescued me.

As Peter stood before a ruling council who questioned how he and John had healed a crippled man, Peter told them about another rescue and the one way it happened: Jesus delivered humanity from sin’s penalty through His sacrifice on the cross.

We might like to think there are many ways to heaven, but the Bible says there’s only one. Jesus paid our sin debt on Calvary’s cross. When we believe that and ask Him to forgive our sins, He raises us from the waters of sin we’re drowning in.

Have you trusted the only one who can deliver you from your sin’s penalty?

Tweetable: What way are you taking out of your mess?

Prayer: Jesus, we look to You for salvation, believing there is salvation in no other name.

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.

Drawn from the Deep - Martin Wiles

He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. Psalm 18:16 NLT

Only three feet of water, but it might as well have been three hundred.

Nine years on this earth. Not long enough to live, but now it appeared that’s all I’d experience. My parents relaxed by the pool of a church member while all the kids, myself included, lounged in the pool on innertubes. The other kids could swim; I couldn’t. They decided to float out to the deep end. Frightened, I clung to the side of the pool as the innertube drifted in that direction. When I could hold on no longer, I slithered into the pool.

I could have simply stood up. I was taller than three feet. But for some reason, I couldn’t get my body to cooperate. Suddenly, someone helped me do what I couldn’t. A friend saw what was happening, jumped into the pool, and raised me up. 

The pool episode hasn’t been the only time someone has rescued me from deep waters. And the deep waters haven’t always been water. I’ve almost drowned in financial crunches, not of my own making. Someone else made a bad decision, and I suffered. Bankruptcy seemed the only option—until friends and family came along and drew me out.

What trouble David encountered that spun this psalm, I’m not sure. He had his share, especially when jealous King Saul pursued his life. But God’s faithfulness rescued him each time.

God’s greatest rescue mission happens when He reaches down and rescues us from sin’s consequences—which according to Paul is spiritual death (Romans 3:23). I can’t rescue myself. My state is helpless—just as it was in the swimming pool. But if I ask, God will take the righteousness of His Son and clothe me with it. He’ll see me as He does His Son: pure, holy, clean, safe.

God will also draw me out from bad choices if I’ll ask. When I consult Him ahead of time, He’ll keep me from making them in the first place.

What God does for me, He wants me to channel to others. They’re drowning in a myriad of things He’s able to draw them out of. And each of us is one He can use to jump in and give others life.

Ask God to help you see the rescue opportunities that abound around you.

Tweetable: Are you in the deep and in need of God's help?

Prayer: Father, as You have drawn us from the deep waters, so motivate us to do the same for others. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's Word.