Day 3–Serpent on the Pole
Scripture reading for May 20: Numbers 21: 5-9 “And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loath this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”
As God’s people wandered in the wilderness for forty years, they became grumpy and complained about the journey and God’s food supply and water supply. They blamed leadership for their issues and by implication blamed God in a deadly fit of unbelief. As a consequence, God allowed fiery serpents of the desert to bite these people and their poison venom brought death. This consequence caused the people to confess their sin of unbelief and ask Moses to ask God for deliverance from the snakes and death. As Moses was faithful to intercede for the people, God told him what to do. He was to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. It was lifted over the camp of God’s people. All who in faith would look upon that serpent with sincere repentance would be healed.
As first responders in the medical field look at this story, something should come to mind. The symbol for the medical field is two snakes coiled around a pole. This ancient remedy, according to Jesus Christ, was a symbol of His own crucifixion on the cross where He took the curse of our sins, sickness, and disease in His own body for our healing. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) All who bear the sentence of death from Satan’s poisonous lies can find healing and eternal life by looking at Jesus crucified and resurrected.
Prayer: Father God, What amazing mercy You show to us who are sinners bitten by sin’s poison! We look thankfully to Jesus Christ for healing and mercy. Use us to lift His healing banner. Amen.
Day 2–“Who is my neighbor?”
Scripture reading for May 19: Luke 10:29-34, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So, likewise a Levite, when he come to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. . . .” vs 36 “ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor. . .?”
Jesus loved to ask questions and to tell stories that helped those asking questions to figure out the answer for themselves. In this story of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ Jesus was asked by a religious ‘lawyer’ a question concerning how to determine who was our neighbor. God’s law instructed His people to love their neighbors as themselves. But prejudice against the Samaritans ran deep in Jewish culture. The lawyer sought to trap Jesus but Jesus told him a story.
The story was that of a man who was robbed, beaten, and left to die by a road in Israel. Two respected Jews, a priest and a Levite, passed this helpless victim. They purposely moved to the opposite side of the road to avoid facing the need. The third traveler was a ‘Samaritan’ who had compassion and stopped to help, using his own supplies to bind up the wounds. He utilized his own animal to transport him and paid expenses for him at the inn. Jesus asked the lawyer: “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor?”
As first responders, we must take the stance of the third traveler. There is no room for prejudice against anyone of a different race or religion. We must not be in such a hurry that we avoid facing the needs presented or make excuses. All should be done with excellence and compassion, proving us good neighbors.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for asking questions and telling us stories we can identify with. Forgive me when I have made excuses not to help others or been in a hurry. Fill me with compassion. Amen.
Week 21–Day 1–EMS Encouragement
Scripture reading for May 18: Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy Name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
King David loved to worship God and composed many of the psalms, including this one. This psalm extols the blessing of God, encouraging each believer to remember and worship God Who alone can bring these benefits. This song of blessing to God comes from deep inside of David’s heart and the blessing are tied to personal experience of each one. We note that David blesses God’s holy Name. God’s Names in the Old Testament reveal these benefits and are part of His revelation to man of His merciful character and desire to see man made in His image made whole and fully reflecting Him.
First, God forgives us of all our iniquity. Iniquity is a term used to describe not just a transgression of God’s law, but a pattern of living outside of God’s law. When we confess and repent, God not only forgives us our sins but has the ability to help us live victorious over the patterns of sin that beset us.
God also heals all our diseases. Disease and sickness are part of living in a fallen world. They are part of Satan’s plan to kill, steal from us and destroy our bodies and souls. God revealed Himself as His people’s healer in Exodus 15:26 and the psalmist declares this as a benefit of trusting God. Jesus came doing miracles of healing to show His Father’s compassion for sick and hurting people.
As first responders who are believers, God wants us to allow His love and mercy to flow through us to those we respond to. We are to bless people by our competence and care, trusting God to do the healing. As medical professionals, we can only show compassion and treat disease and injury. God can bring healing and renew strength like an eagle.
Prayer: Father God, we bless You for all Your many benefits and Your steadfast love and mercy. We willingly give ourselves to You to minister Your love and mercy to those You send us to. Amen.
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.