Category: 2026 Trek Intro
Day 5–Fire of Eternal Punishment
Scripture reading for May 15: Matthew 13:38-42 “The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them in a fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Revelation 14:9-11 “”If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
The biblical teaching of eternal punishment and the lake of fire is not popular in the church today. Many think of it as a myth and a place that would never exist if Jesus is a God of love. But God’s Word gives us all a sober warning about its certainty and duration. It is part of God’s justice and divine retribution that in the end assures that each person receives a just punishment or a just forgiveness of all sins. There is no partiality or favoritism with God.
The parable of the weeds in the field was taught by Jesus to show how at the final harvest Jesus would send out the holy angels to gather them in bundles to be burned. These weeds, unredeemed people, were sown by the evil one, the devil, in the field of the world. They had promoted sin and lawlessness in rebellion to God’s Word. They had refused the cup of mercy offered them by Jesus through His sacrifice of blood and body. They would receive the cup of God’s wrath in the presence of the Lamb and holy angels.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your justice and mercy. We know that You have done everything You could to provide forgiveness of sins to all who would accept. Help us as faith first responders to share your plan of mercy with those still in danger of this eternal fire. Amen.
Day 4: Breach the door!
Scripture reading for May 14: Revelation 3:18-20 “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me.”
Our training officer brought a training aide to the station. It was a heavy iron door with a lock meant to help us learn how to breach a door to reach those inside needing rescue. We were divided into teams of two and put on our gear. We were given the assignment to open the door. We did inward opening doors one way, and outward opening doors the reverse. We used our axes as hammers and our halogen tool as a pry bar. Working together, we could gain access to this tough steel door with the proper technique.
Today’s passage, however, gives us a different perspective on how our Lord Jesus instructs us about breaching locked doors of the human heart. Each person has need to put on their spiritual gear. The gold refined by fire is our faith that comes from hearing and obeying God’s Word. Our faith is always tested by the fire of trial and persecution. It is meant to prove genuine like pure gold, reflecting the image of our Lord Jesus. We need the white robes of Christ’s righteousness which comes by faith through grace. Our Lord loves us and brings needed correction and discipline to help us, not harm us.
Next Jesus revealed how He breaches our heart door. He doesn’t use a halogen tool or an axe, but patiently knocks on the door, waiting for us to open to Him. If we willingly open, He will come in and share bread and drink with us in sweet communion. It’s His goodness that leads us to open our door. (Romans 2:4)
Prayer: Father God, we love to breach doors in our training and sometimes need that in rescuing those trapped in a fire. But help us to be gentle and knock when sharing Your love with others. Amen.
Day 3–Keep the Water Flowing!
Scripture reading for May 13: John 4:11-14 “The woman said to Him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never bet thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.””
Firefighting primarily depends on a supply of water. When called to a fire, we always bring a truck with a supply of water with us because we can’t depend on having a water supply handy. If out in the country, tankers holding two or three thousand gallons come to resupply the pumper engine. One fireman is designated to run the pump and insure the pressure is maintained for those fighting the fire on the hose or hoses. If in the city, hoses from the engine are run to the hydrant and a continuous supply can be maintained. If the water goes dry or runs out, firefighters and those who may be trapped are in grave danger.
In today’s devotional reading, Jesus is talking to a woman by a well dug hundred’s of years earlier by Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. The well was deep and getting the water out required a vessel and a rope and strength. Jesus asked a woman there for a drink. The woman was taken aback for Jews did not ask Samaritan women for help. Jesus drew her out of her cultural and ethnic box by inviting her to ask Him for ‘living water.’ She was curious and asked where she might find this water. Jesus again caused her to think by stating that the water He would give her would become a ‘spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ In other words, a never ending supply for eternity!
Firefighting can make us thirsty. Those caught in fires are usually dehydrated. Water is essential for fighting fires, but also for life itself. But Jesus Christ wants us all to enjoy our personal well of water that springs up inside our hearts.
Prayer: Lord, I need a continuous supply of water! Hydrants can run dry, tankers only hold a limited amount. Fill me with living water. Amen.
Day 2–Snatching them from fire
Scripture reading for May 12: Jude 19-23 “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in you most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
As a volunteer firefighter and a follower of Jesus, this verse has always caught my attention and given me a vision for the purpose of our department. We are here in our community to save lives of those who may be caught in a fire. Our first priority when arriving on the scene is to ascertain if there are any persons inside the structure and where they might be in relation to the fire. If we know that someone is inside, we make every effort to locate them and remove them from the smoke and fire that can quickly take their lives.
In doing this, we use the equipment provided to protect us as we go in to rescue the victims. We have fire-retardant suits that are designed to protect us to 600 degrees. We strap on air tanks with masks to supply smoke-free air and protect our lungs. We work in teams to watch out for our safety, often dragging a rope with us to guide us back out or a fire hose to suppress the fire. Our goal is to reach the trapped person and quickly remove them from danger and to make it out ourselves.
We can see the spiritual parallel in yesterday’s devotion and today’s passage. We, as God’s beloved, are to prepare ourselves to walk by faith each day and show God’s love to those we are sent to. Prayer in the Holy Spirit empowers us to intercede for those needing rescue from sin and fires of human passion apart from God. God empowers us by the Holy Spirit to show mercy on all and at times, to snatch the doubters from the fires that would destroy them. We must do this with humility and love, being careful not to get caught in the fire ourselves.
Prayer: Father God, build me up today as I pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep me in Your love and show Your great mercy by enabling me to snatch from the fire those caught by their bad decisions and flesh. Amen.
Week 20–Day 1-Fire Fighters as ‘God’s Angels’
Scripture reading for May 11: Genesis 19:24, 27-29 “Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. . . .And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. So it was that when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.”
This is the first mention of burning fire in the Scriptures. You may be thinking, how does this passage relate to firefighting? We know that fire can be beneficial as well as destructive. It is beneficial to keep us warm, cook our food, and even to worship God through sacrifice. Here, God sent burning sulfur on several small cities where their inhabitants had rebelled against God’s revealed plans. This fire was holy judgment from a just and righteous God.
But one man, Abraham, had stood before the Lord and interceded for his family who lived among those in the cities mentioned. Abraham appealed to God’s mercy and He responded to his plea by sending two angels to warn nephew Lot and his family. The residents of the city surrounded Lot’s home and resisted God’s mercy and mocked his messengers. The angels urged Lot to gather his family and leave. It is recorded that Lot lingered, but the angel took them by the hand and escorted them away before fire fell and consumed the cities. Abraham looked and saw the smoke rising, like the smoke of a furnace. He thanked God that He had remembered his plea for Lot and his daughters.
We in the fire service always stand ready to be sent to a fire. The first sign of a fire is usually smoke rising from an unnatural place. We are part of God’s emergency response service to save those involved. As Abraham prayed, we should be people of prayer who call on the Lord on behalf of those caught in fires. We offer ourselves as those who will go and take victims by the hand and lead them out.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing mercy towards all made in Your image. Use first responders to rescue those caught in fire. Amen.
Day 5–Supreme Judge Over All
Scripture reading for May 8: 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Revelation 20:11-14 “Then I saw a great white throne and Him Who was seated on it. From His presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. . . .” vs. 15 “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.“
Whether we are a believer in Jesus or have not chosen to follow Jesus, God’s Word declares that all will appear before the Supreme Judge, Jesus Christ. There, at the judgment seat of Christ, believers will be judged for how they used what God had provided to do the good works He had prepared for them. They will give an account of using the time allotted to them. Some will receive rewards for faithfulness and others for soul winning or stewardship of time and resources. Others will suffer loss and enter the kingdom with few, if any rewards.
The great white throne is the place of judgment for the unbelievers of the world. We note that whether considered ‘great’ or ‘small’ in the world’s eyes, all are judged equally and individually. They all receive ‘justice’ because God keeps good records. There are ‘books’ where every sin and evil deed is recorded for each person throughout their life. Every time they rejected God’s grace is recorded and noted. Another book, the book of life, is where those who have repented of sin and asked for mercy through Jesus Christ are recorded by name. If a name is recorded in the book of life, there will be no record of sins or failures in the other books. God’s grace removes sin and guilt because Jesus willing paid the price of death on the cross.
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for justice and judgment for all without partiality by our Righteous Judge, Jesus Christ. As we serve You, we humbly ask for mercy each day and empowerment by Your Spirit to do Your will and complete the works You prepare for us. Amen.
Day 4–A Famous Jailer
Scripture reading for May 7: Acts 16:25-31 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Paul and Silas were missionaries who had delivered a slave girl from demonic spirits. This caused an uproar and business leaders dragged them before the local rulers and their judges. They were beaten and accused of teaching strange customs and breaking Roman law. These judges had them put in leg irons and hand restraints in the dungeon of the local prison and instructed the jailer to keep them.
But Paul and Silas rejoiced in the Lord Jesus. They sang hymns of praise to God. God heard and sent a strong earthquake that opened the prison doors and released all bonds from every prisoner! The jailer knew if they escaped, he would pay with his life so he prepared to take his own life. Paul and Silas cried out to him, encouraging him that they were all there. The jailer was surprised and thankful. He brought them out and asked them how he, too, could be saved.
For those working in jails, this passage demonstrates why we must acknowledge God in all our ways and treat each prisoner with respect. God shook his jail, but also his own soul with a realization that he needed what Paul and Silas had. He had heard the worship and now wanted to worship God too. These prisoners had the answer: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and your household.” For those in jail, as believers, God has a mission field there. He will use you, even as a prisoner, if you keep a heart faithful and full of worship.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this amazing story of a jailer and his family who in doing his job found a brand new life in Jesus. Amen.
Day 3–Judges rule for God
Scripture reading for May 6: 2 Chronicles 19:4 -7“Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes.”
Part of our justice system of law enforcement is the court system. In our country, some judges are elected, some are appointed by those in authority, and some are nominated and approved by our government legislative branch. Each judge has a specific jurisdiction that they are assigned and they are to judge impartially according to the laws of the jurisdiction they oversee.
We see in the time of King Jehoshaphat, as this king led God’s people back to the Lord, one of the key factors was to establish judges who would judge justly. He appointed them city by city, assigning them their jurisdiction. As they were installed, he asked them to consider what they did and how they did it in the administration of justice. He reminded them that God was with them and that they did not judge for man, or themselves, or the king, but for God Himself. God would help them as they feared Him and were careful to justly and impartially pass judgment. Bribery was strictly forbidden as it was a means of partiality towards those with money or influence.
Oh how God’s simple instructions are needed in our system of justice today! As God appoints judges to positions of authority, He also is with those in judge’s positions. He knows how justice is being administered. He knows if the judge is impartial or is pedaling influence for money or favors. He sees the judge’s treatment of each person and promises to judge those who judge with partially or for bribes!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for watching over the justice system in each nation, city, and jurisdiction. Thank You for righteous judges who are impartial and treat all with dignity and respect. Remove those who are partial or accept bribes. Amen.
Day 2–Truth for Resisters
Scripture reading for May 5: Romans 13:2-5“Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrong-doer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.”
Paul was under the authority of the Roman government as a citizen. He was also a devout Jew who was under God’s appointment as an apostle. God instructed him to write concerning authority and those resisting it. In general believers are not to resist authority established by God if what they ask us to do is reasonable under God’s law. We are not to break existing laws unless they force us to disobey God. Even then, resistance is to be courteous and respectful. (See Daniel 3:16-18)
Paul warned those doing wrong to be fearful of those in authority. He reminded them that those in authority ‘bear the sword’ and it wasn’t just for show. He also reminded them that they were ‘servants of God’ who carried out God’s wrath on wrong-doers. He emphasized that they must be subject to those in authority, not just to avoid God’s wrath, but so their conscience would not bring conviction and a personal reminder of God’s displeasure and their guilt.
Law enforcement is established by governments to protect and bless those doing right. It is to apprehend and punish those doing wrong. This is all a part of God’s ongoing purpose to bring peace and justice to society in order that they might find Him. All law enforcement serves at God’s pleasure and He watches over them to keep them doing right. If they do wrong, God knows how to correct the situation.
Prayer: Father God, I am thankful for those that You have provided to protect those who desire to do right and live a peaceful life. Help me to submit to them and pray that they would do their jobs with integrity and fairness, treating each person with respect and dignity. May You protect them from evil-doers. Amen.
Week 19–Day 1–God Establishes Authority
Scripture reading for May 4: Psalm 75:6-7 “For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God Who executes judgment, putting one down and lifting up another.” Romans 13:1-2 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”
A clearly stated truth in Scripture concerns God’s supreme authority. God is over all authority and those holding any position of authority have their position because God placed them there. They are placed there to serve God’s purposes and enforce the laws of the land which also flow from God’s decrees. Those under authority are not to resist them or the laws they are to uphold in unapproved ways or they will incur wrath and judgment.
The psalmist said that promotion doesn’t come from any particular direction–east or west. It doesn’t come from the wilderness–something like the ‘wild west’ or from those untamed who appear to have their own authority. God uses various means to ‘lift up’ to positions of authority or to ‘put down’ another in authority when His purpose for that leader is finished. In our land, elections are one means that leave us with the idea that the common will of the people has placed someone in authority. God uses elections to fulfil His will, as He is sovereign over all authority. In dictatorships, God also places rulers in their place and even the wrath of man shall praise Him and serve His purposes in the end.
These truths help all of us to stay humble before God and those He has appointed. Those appointed by Him also must answer to Him for their stewardship and treatment of both those breaking the law and those needing protection from law-breakers. They also are mindful that they serve at God’s pleasure as He has placed them there and will remove them at His discretion.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your just and righteous rulership over all creation. Thank You for reminding us all that You establish human authority and governments and systems of law and order. Help me to submit to You and Your will in my treatment of those in authority. As I exercise authority, may I fulfil Your will with Your heart. Amen.