I like reading different translations of the Bible. While they may all be saying the same thing, one word in a particular translation can cause a well-known scripture to come alive in my heart. One word can ignite a train of thoughts that always lead to how much He loves me.

This morning I couldn’t sleep. I got up and started reading in my New Living Translation Bible. This one word captured my heart. This one word sparked my imagination. This one word reminded me of how much He loves me. That one word, is the word rescued.

He [the Lord] reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. (Psalm 18:16, NLT)

…you have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins. (Isaiah 38:17, NLT)

…And he became their Savior. In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them… (Isaiah 63:8-9, NLT)

…he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. (Colossians 1:13, NLT)

But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. (Daniel 12:1, NLT)

He redeemed me. He saved me. He personally rescued me.

I think about firefighters running into burning buildings to rescue people from the flames. I remember watching the scenes from New York on September 11th. The firefighters running into what looked like a living hell, knowing it may cost them their lives. And it did.

Our Savior, Jesus, went willingly into the hands of Roman soldiers to be tortured so that we might be healed (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24). Our King went willingly upon that cross to shed His blood for our sins. He went running into hell itself to rescue you and me. Oh, how He loves you. Oh, how He loves me.

This morning I think of what my life was before He rescued me. I think about what my life may have been had I not received Him as Savior. I think of the eternal hell He rescued me from.

The last scripture listed above, Daniel 12:1, speaks of a day that is coming. A day when men will need rescuing and only God can rescue them. Let us freely give, what we have freely received, the Good News of His Salvation. Let us introduce others to the One Who rescued us… the Only One that can rescue them.