One of our readers, a kind woman named Nadine, tells of a time when she was driving to the store to pick up a few groceries when she saw two stray dogs – a mother and her very thin puppy – in an open field. Desiring to help the strays, she got out of her car and pursued them for over an hour, trying to lure them to her without being intimidating. Unable to draw them to her, she drove to the store and bought some tasty meat for the starving animals. The starving strays still declined her offer.
In frustration, she cried out, "I’m trying to save you! You’re going to starve to death out here – or be killed!"
She later thought to herself, "They had no idea that they actually needed me, and they refused to come to me so that I could help them. I was so hurt and frustrated, knowing their bleak future as strays."
As she continued to reflect upon her experience with the strays, a spiritual application became clear. " I thought of the Lord – how He lovingly works and works to get people to come to Him to save them, yet so many refuse. Many do not even believe they need Him at all. They do not realize that their souls are starving!"
That was a powerful reminder to me as to how God sees us in our true, pitiful condition: lost, starving, headed for danger, and in need of His help and comfort.
All we like sheep have gone ‘astray’; we have turned, everyone, to his own way… (Isaiah 53:6).
And God reaches out to rescue us through the saving message of the Gospel. Yet, far too many reject His offer, unaware of their perilous condition.
On one occasion, Jesus looked upon the city of Jerusalem and wept over it, saying, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37; Luke 19:41-44).
Jesus went to the cross to make our salvation possible! He took your sins and mine upon Himself and paid the price for our redemption (1 Peter 2:24). He invites all to come to Him for salvation: Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30). He has set forth the conditions of acceptance: faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance (Acts 17:30,31), confession (Romans 10:9,10), baptism (immersion) for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), and a life lived in dedication to following His will (1 John 1:7; Heb. 10:25).
Jesus sees us in our true, pitiful condition: lost, starving, headed for danger, and in need of His help and comfort. He invites each of us to come to Him for salvation. Please do not reject Him for another moment! - David A. Sargent