our daily bread
Dexu Xia
Up a Tree
In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. Jonah 2:2
My mother discovered my kitten Velvet atop the kitchen counter, devouring homemade bread. With a huff of frustration, she scooted her out the door. Hours later, we searched our yard for the missing cat without success. A faint meow whistled on the wind, and I looked up to the peak of a poplar tree where a black smudge tilted a branch.
In her haste to flee my mother’s frustration over her behavior, Velvet chose a more precarious predicament. Is it possible that we sometimes do something similar—running from our errors and putting ourselves in danger? And even then God comes to our rescue.
Oh the heights--and in the depths--God goes to in rescuing us with His redeeming love!
The prophet Jonah fled in disobedience from God’s call to preach to Nineveh, and was swallowed up by a great fish. “From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: ‘In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me’ ” (Jonah 2:1–2). God heard Jonah’s plea and, “commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (v. 10). Then God gave Jonah another chance (3:1).
After exhausting our efforts to woo Velvet down, we summoned the local fire department. With the longest ladder fully extended, a kind man climbed high, plucked my kitten from her perch, and returned to place her safely in my arms.
Oh the heights—and the depths—God goes to in rescuing us from our disobedience with His redeeming love!
Dear God, how we need Your rescue today!
Jesus’s death on the cross rescued us from our sins.
逃避我遭遇患难求告耶和华，祢就应允我。-约拿书2章2节
我母亲发现我家的猫咪绒绒跑到厨房的台面上，偷吃了她做的面包，她一气之下就把绒绒赶出门外。几小时后，我们在院子里找它却遍寻不获。最后，终于从白杨树梢上传来微弱的猫叫声，我抬头一看，一团黑影把枝桠都压弯了，这不正是那小家伙吗！
绒绒偷吃了面包之后，为了逃避我母亲的怒气，选择了一个更危险的处境。有时，我们是否也会像绒绒一样，为了逃避过错，而让自己身陷险境呢？不过，即使这样，上帝仍会拯救我们。
上帝要先知约拿前往尼尼微城传讲信息时，约拿不愿顺服上帝而逃跑，结果被一条大鱼吞进肚子里。他在鱼腹中向上帝祷告说：“我遭遇患难求告耶和华，祢就应允我”（约拿书2章1-2节）。上帝听了约拿的呼求就“吩咐鱼，鱼就把约拿吐在旱地上”（10节）。随后，上帝给了约拿第二次机会（3章1节）。
纵然我们费尽心力，仍无法把绒绒救下来，最后只好请消防队来帮忙。有一位仁慈的消防员架设了最长的云梯，爬到高处把绒绒抱了下来，将它放在我的臂弯中。
无论我们因不愿顺服上帝而逃到危险的高处，或陷入幽深的低谷，上帝都会以救赎的大爱来拯救我们！
亲爱的上帝，我们今天实在需要祢的拯救！
耶稣在十架上受死，拯救我们脱离罪恶