Broken Hearts

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with an evangelistic song if ever I heard one.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave
Weep ‘ore the erring ones, lift the fallen
Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

You know, you hardly hear people sing that song nowadays. It’s because it’s an old Salvation Army hymn. It makes you think of evangelists hitting the streets with gospel tracts, passionate and earnest about their call. And even though it’s not well known anymore, I sure do love its heartfelt devotion. I love the passion in every line.

And you know sometimes that passion, that zeal, that fervor is often missing from our service. Do our hearts break over the fact that lost people are heading for hell? Do we shed tears on behalf of the poor or the orphaned? Do we happily go the second mile to serve the needy paying no attention to the cost? In short, do we live out our ministry sacrificially? Or do we casually serve with a 9-to-5 mindset? Do we put in the bare minimum, serving just enough to get by?

I once heard someone say that all ministry for the Master must have the sacrificial spirit of the Master. In other words, we can do many worthy things for Christ: we could witness to the unsaved; we can serve the disabled, care for orphans, help the poor, feed the hungry, minister to the elderly, and so much more. All these are great acts of service. But if our heart is not broken over these needs, if there is no degree of sacrifice or heartfelt compassion, if there is no blood sweat or tears, no “Oh please, let me pour out myself on your behalf,” if there is no groaning in prayer for these people, it’s not Christian ministry. We simply cannot heal the wounds that we do not feel, this same person once said. Let me say that again. A Christian cannot heal the wounds that he does not feel. That’s what it means to serve with compassion. “Com” means with, “passion” means suffering: With-suffering.

We must bleed if we would be ministers of the saving blood of Christ. It’s what Ephesians, Chapter 6 talks about when it says that we should serve wholeheartedly. You’ve got to pour your whole heart into your service. There must be emotion. There must be great feeling, just as Jesus had great feeling. Just as He groaned and pleaded and prayed, and loved as if people depended on it. And they did. So friend, we’ve got to groan, plead and pray, and love as if our life depends on it. So please, let’s forget ho-hum, half-hearted service. People are hopeless. So let’s rescue the perishing. Let’s give the gospel, reach the poor, help the elderly, rescue the orphan; serve the homeless with zeal and fervor. Today, watch for opportunities to serve the Lord Jesus like that. Serve Him with His heart and with His compassion. A lot of people are perishing and they need you to rescue them.

© Joni and Friends