I trust you have seen some of the video of the aftermath of the tragic earthquake in Turkey and Syria this week. Over 5,700 buildings collapsed in Turkey alone, and the devastation in Syria has just added to the problems of that war-torn area. As of the time of this writing, the death toll has risen to over 20,000, but there are still likely thousands more trapped and the time is running out on any chances of their rescue.

In one of the most dramatic rescues from Turkey on the day after the quake, a seven-year old girl was trapped with her younger sister. She had kept her hand over the sister's head for 17 hours trying to protect her. In the video of the rescue, made by a UN representative, the little girl said something in a calm, quiet voice to those who are trying to dig her out of the collapsed building. The translation said: "Get me out from under this wreckage, sir, me and my sister, and I will become your slave."

What a heart-wrenching request and response. Obviously, the little girl trapped in the rubble just wanted to get out of that dreadful situation, and she was so desperate for the help that she was willing to devote her life to the one who got her out. 

That reminded me of a few prayers I have heard of people who were surrendering their lives to Christ. "Get me out of this mess, Lord, and I will serve you forever." Whether they fully meant what they were saying, or even understood it, was one thing, but that statement at least gives us a good idea of what salvation is. It is about being rescued.

We all make deals with God every now and then. They used to be called "foxhole vows," because many a soldier facing a perilous situation had bargained with God, to do whatever He wanted, if He would only get them through it.

But really, that little girl's request was a pretty good description of what it means to respond to the gospel. We recognize that we are hopeless in our sins unless He comes to our rescue, and since there's nothing we can do ourselves to improve our position, we are willing to do whatever is asked of us. Even the term "slave," with all of its negative connotations, really defines our position with Christ. We have been "bought with a price," and we are "not our own." (1 Cor. 6:19-20) We belong to Him now, and therefore we are submitted to do whatever He wills.

The good news is that out of His deep love for us, Jesus took our relationship to another level. In John 15, He said, "No longer do I call you slaves...but I have called you friends." He has every right to demand that we serve Him as slaves, but instead He calls us His friends. What a friend we have in Jesus! The apostle Paul took it a step further, in Galatians 4. He wrote: "So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir."

It's one thing to be rescued from the rubble of our sin, it's another to be made a child of the Rescuer, and then to inherit all of the riches that are His. Indeed, that should motivate us to serve like a slave, but we do so from the position of a child, since "God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Galatians 4:6).

I pray that more people will be rescued from the rubble in Turkey and Syria, and I hope that somehow in that tragedy God is glorified. But I also pray that we see ourselves as that little girl sees herself, and we see our Savior with the same total dependence and gratitude that she did.

What a privilege it is to serve such a wonderful church! I am so grateful for each of you, and pray the Lord's blessings on you and your family. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. 

--Pastor Ken