Day 5–God’s delays
Scripture reading for April 10: Psalms 37:7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;. . .”
John 11:1-5“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, he whom You love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.”
It isn’t easy to be patient when a loved one is near death. We call ‘911’ and summon help expecting urgency. The EMT’s and support helpers from fire also seek to go quickly to provide timely help. We pick the best route and turn on lights and siren as we speed to the scene. We want action and and have high expectations.
But in this story, sisters Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus of a serious illness afflicting His friend and their brother Lazarus. Their expectation was speedy action and quick results. But Jesus had other plans that would demonstrate the Father’s love and bring Him glory. He told His disciples that this sickness would not lead to death. He then delayed two more days before announcing that they were headed to Bethany. Most believers know the story of Lazarus dying and placed in a tomb. Jesus came and wept over the tomb and called Lazarus out. Death was defeated through a God-directed delay.
There are some lessons responders can learn about time management from this story. Our human tendency is to hurry and expect quick results, especially from Jesus. We often think we have things figured out but God has other plans and a bigger picture we don’t take time to see. When we are delayed or get lost on the way, we should always trust God to work out the delay for our benefit and the blessing of those we come to serve.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for working out our lives with a bigger picture than we see. Help me to be patient and wait on You when delays come into my hurried schedule. Let me see how You are bringing glory to Your Name and blessing those who are hurting. Amen.
Day 4–God Sets our Boundaries
Scripture reading for April 9: Acts 17:25-29 “. . .since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us, for “In Him we live and move and have our being’;. . .”
Proverbs 16:9 “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
Man makes plans and often arrogantly thinks that he is the master of his own life and is in control. He sees no need for God and relegates those who seek God’s plans to ancient history. But Scripture teaches us the truth. God is the life-giver to all creatures including man. God also made from one man every nation and tongue who live on the earth. Scripture states that God sets the boundaries of each person’s habitation on earth. He determines our address and the length of time we will reside there.
As we feel our way along through life’s hills and valleys, God draws us to Himself, and His goodness leads us to repentance and life. As Paul states, God is not far from each of us. We are like fish in an ocean of God. Yet He does not overwhelm us or force us to know Him. True love must be freely given. God demonstrates this love through the giving of His Son.
As responders, a biblical world view that recognizes God’s nearness and good plans to help all mankind enables us to rest in God while we work. The fact that God made us all from one man means that we are all on level ground, there are no big ‘I’s or little ‘you’s’. Each person is precious and made in God’s image. God has and is setting boundaries for each person. When we face death, we understand that God is there and has the final say. We do the best we can with what God provides and trust Him for outcomes. Even when our plans get diverted in unexpected ways, we can and must trust God is ordering our steps for His purposes.
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You are in control of all things. Help me to recognize Your direction of my steps and the steps of those I am sent to help. Help me to treat each person as special and demonstrate the love of our amazing Father. Amen.
Day 3–Presumption on Tomorrow
Scripture reading for April 8: Proverbs 27:1 “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
James 4: 13-15“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”–yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”
Many people are very presumptive about time and assume that time will go on as it has for the future. Scripture from Solomon’s time warns us not to boast about tomorrow for no one knows what tomorrow will bring except God. There are a host of people claiming to be prophets that can accurately predict what will happen in the future. We are warned not to believe everyone who says they know the future and as Christ’s followers we are not to seek out the future. We are given what we need to know by God through the Word and Jesus Christ.
James, speaking to the early church, tried to reason with those making confident assertions about tomorrow as far as making concrete plans. James warned believers that their lives were very short, like a mist that appears and then vanishes in the sun. Instead of arrogantly boasting about plans, we should always make room for God’s plans and His will being worked out in our lives. Our time is not our own, but rather is in His loving and capable hands. We must stay humble and submit to His will and plans.
Responders also need to keep these truths in their own hearts as they work with others. We recognize that God is in charge of each person and we work for Him and with Him in each situation. We ask for His help and seek His will and trust Him for the outcomes.
Prayer: Father God, I sometimes struggle with plans and working out everything that I want to get done. I speak about those plans but am learning more and more to say ‘If the Lord wills’ and rest in Your timing and season. It is a joy to trust You! Amen.
Day 2–A Time for Everything
Scripture reading for April 7: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; . . . “
Time use is a vital subject for those volunteering their time and energy to help hurting people. All our lives are busy with jobs, family, friends, hobbies, church and clubs. We must do all the regular tasks of our daily lives, and then be available to respond suddenly to other’s immediate needs. We willingly put off whatever task we were involved in and briefly join someone in a season of hurt. We need God’s help discerning the times and seasons of our lives and those that others are experiencing.
God’s ancient Words coming through Solomon about three thousand years ago can help us with priorities. Solomon stated that there are seasons for everything. A season is a part of the year with certain specific characteristics to determine what activities we can participate in. For example, it’s winter here in Kansas and it is not the season of planting or harvest. In the seasons, there are set times that work best for certain activities. As we grow in wisdom, we can understand God’s ways and cooperate with Him in the season we are in.
From His Word, we come to see that God sets the seasons and times of life for each person. We can’t rush these seasons, but must wait on them and then take advantage of the time for various activities. When we lack understanding, we can ask God to help us discern what to do in the present season and time. We can rest that He sets the times and seasons of each person.
Prayer: Father, it is humbling that You have set the seasons and times of our lives and that there is enough time for each activity under the sun. Help me not to rush through each day but to enjoy the time you give me and the season I am in. Help me to be mindful of Your timing in the lives of those going through difficult seasons. Amen.
Week 15–Day 1–Urgent but lingering!
Scripture reading for April 6: Genesis 19:14-17 “So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting. As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.”
First responders are always conscious of time. When the call comes for someone in urgent need, we are aware that time is of the essence. Several months ago, our department received a call of a terrible wreck with overturned vehicle, entrapment, and vehicle fire with possible casualties. I was only five miles from the scene and quickly sped to the station, meeting two other responders there as well. Praying as we headed out, we knew we needed God’s help and wise use of our time. It was certainly not a time to linger!
In the story from today’s Scripture, God had sent angels to warn Lot of coming judgment by fire on the city where he lived. It was urgent that Lot gather his family and get out quickly. Lot went to his sons-in-law and urged them to leave. They thought he was joking and did not move. Lot waited until morning and the angels urged him to take his wife and two daughters and leave quickly. The tragedy is that Lot lingered in spite of the warning of imminent danger. God, in His amazing mercy, had the angels grab Lot and his daughter’s hands and physically brought them out of the city. As they headed out, fire and brimstone was falling on the city. Lot’s wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt! Genesis 19:26.
This story stands as a warning to all believers to heed God’s warnings immediately. We must maintain a sense of urgency to save our lives and that of our family. Timely response indicates faith which pleases God. Lingering indicates unbelief which is a sin leading to death.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the warning of Scripture concerning our need for timely action on Your Word. Help us as responders to act in a timely manner and also to warn those in danger of their need to escape before it’s too late. Amen.
Day 5–Fire-setter? Or fighter?
Scripture reading for April 3: James 3:5-6 “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.”
As a fire-fighter, I love to put out brush and grass fires. In fact, just yesterday, I was playing golf and a grass fire call came over my pager. I rushed back to the clubhouse and then drove quickly the half-mile to the fire station. I jumped into my suit and boots and took the brush truck loaded with water back to the other side of the course. It turned out that the golf course superintendent had started a small brush fire in the morning and the wind picked up blowing sparks into nearby grass. The dry grass quickly spread as wind gusted and flames headed for the adjoining houses. It was just a small brush fire that ignited several acres in a short time! Thankfully, working with others, it was quickly extinguished.
James wrote about the tongue as a small fire set in the body. The untamed tongue is a world of unrighteousness and evil. Although small, our tongue can quickly start a big blaze that spreads rapidly bringing wide-spread devastation. James says that our untamed tongue can set the whole course of life on fire and it derives it’s deadly match from hell itself.
As a first responder who fights fires, I surely don’t want to be responsible for setting them! The longer I live as a member of my community of responders, The better I am understanding the power of our tongues. Our words can bring healing, they can break through hardened hearts, they can comfort and encourage and help maintain unity and good will. But if we are careless with our words, they can start fires of strife among our community destroying unity. Each person must go to God for grace and power to tame the fire of our tongues. Let’s be fire-fighters and not igniters!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for giving Your children understanding concerning the power of our tongues and the need for Your help in bringing the fire under control. Help me to use my tongue to quench the fires of pride and calm the winds that spread discord. Amen.
Day 4–The Rudder of Your Ship
Scripture reading for April 2: James 3:1-5 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.”
James is said to write the ‘proverbs’ of the New Testament because he writes with direct and practical wisdom. This dissertation on the tongue was given to warn those in the church that greater judgment comes to those who teach God’s Word. (James 3:1) God holds those who teach to a greater accountability because of the power of words to bring guidance and direction and influence others. Those who teach can also become full of pride and use their tongue to boast and draw attention away from God to themselves. This is how we stumble into Satan’s traps.
James used bridles for horses and our ability to control what comes out of our mouth as an example of how to keep from stumbling or going off course. Bits in the horse’s mouth guide the horse through pressure and even pain causing them to turn as the rider applies the reins. The second example James used was the rudder of a ship. It is a small part of a big ship, but when the pilot moves the rudder, the great ship is guided skillfully along.
This truth is good for us a first responders in several ways. We must be careful with ‘self-talk’ that is negative or defeated. Our mouths need a bit applied to turn away from this mis-direction of our lives. Another application of the ‘rudder’ is choosing our words carefully as we to talk to others or about others concerning our work. Gossip and spreading of details of our work, or making fun of someone needs quick reining in.
Prayer: Father God, forgive me when I have neglected to use the rudder to steer my mouth. Help me to use my words to direct my own life in Your path and to show grace and respect to others You love. Amen.
Day 3–Bone-breaker!
Scripture reading for April 1: Proverbs 25:15 “With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft (gentle) tongue will break a bone.”
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
In our culture, it is often thought that the loudest and meanest person gets his way and is heard. We often hear voices raised and demanding what is wanted from those in authority. Some people think that this might be the best way to approach God, our supreme authority, but Jesus modeled and taught a different approach. Jesus knew that patience and gentleness were powerful weapons to break through hearts hardened by labor and loads.
Jesus called out to those who were hurting in His culture with an invitation to come to Him with their heavy burdens and deep wounds and worries. Jesus offered to teach them His way of life. He lived a life of rest. Although He came from the throne of God, He came with gentleness and compassion, reflecting the heart of His Father. He humbly invited all to willingly come under His ‘yoke’. This may sound like a real burden if you view ‘yoke’ as the wooden beam thrown over an oxen’s shoulders to pull the load. But Jesus was talking about them becoming His disciples and the ‘yoke’ was His simple teaching and instruction. As a rabbi in the Jewish culture had disciples, so Jesus called disciples who would willingly ‘yoke’ with Him.
As we look at how important our words are in helping others, this simple teaching on gentleness can make a world of difference. When we see from God’s perspective, we understand that humility and gentleness are powerful influencers. God doesn’t force anyone to come under His ‘yoke’ but sends out a loving invitation. Being loud and demanding may appear to be cool, but is not Jesus’ ‘yoke’!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for modeling for us the gentleness and compassion of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to humbly listen to Your Words and Your Son’s example and respond to His call every day. Living in rest for our souls will draw others to our gentle Savior. Amen.
Day 2–Healing words!
Scripture reading for March 31: Proverbs 4: 20-23 “My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight: keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Solomon impressed on his sons their need to pay attention to his words by which he taught the truth from God’s Word. He told them to listen closely with more than just hearing the words. They were to keep those words in their heart as one might keep a precious treasure. These words would result in life for their souls. These words would be shared through them to pass on to the next generation so that they too might find real life. These words, if kept, would also provide healing for their flesh and bring them what Solomon described as a flow of the ‘springs of life.’
The flow from our hearts is dependent on what we listen to and pay attention to on a daily basis. If we fill our lives with God’s thoughts and the fruits of His Holy Spirit, gracious words of hope, encouragement, and love will flow like honey from a honeycomb. Our souls will be healthy and full of sweetness. We will bring healing to others instead of infecting their lives with anger or disdain.
As responders, we are sometimes called to go to places where there is strife or disease and sickness. There people may express their hurt and bitterness coming from wounded hearts or discouragement from a long battle. We must guard our hearts against picking up or contributing to the negativity. We learn to counter any discouraging words or bad attitudes with calmness, love and wisdom. We extend grace to hurting people and show them respect. We bless them and seek to do good demonstrating God’s love and ways. We encourage them by a healthy example of a soul nourished on God’s Word.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for filling my heart with Your love and nourishing me with Your Word. I keep Your Word as a sweet and healing medicine for my soul. Empower me through Your Holy Spirit to accurately reflect Your healing words to those who are hurting. Amen.
Week 14–Day 1– A Fountain of Life?
Scripture reading for March 30: Proverbs 10:11-13 “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offences. On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.”
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
Matthew 12:34-35 “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.”
For years I read a chapter of proverbs each day as a spiritual discipline to learn wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to take knowledge and apply it to living successfully. God gave wisdom to Solomon because he asked Him for it. This wisdom was written down to pass on to Solomon’s sons and God’s people. We would do well to listen and learn these simple statements and apply them to our daily lives.
Man’s mouth and the tongue are a source of either blessing or trouble. Solomon taught that the mouth of a righteous person was a fountain of life and a source of wisdom for sound and gracious living. Love in the heart and mouth would cover offenses. But the mouth of evil people, on the other hand, would stir up violence, hatred and strife. Truly life and death were found in the power of the tongue.
Jesus taught that from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Whatever your heart is filled with spills out of your mouth. The human heart contains a treasure–either of good or evil. First responders must watch their mouths and according to these words of wisdom, they must guard their heart for preserving good treasure. Part of our response to the needs of hurting people is using life-giving words and sharing wisdom. What treasure is flowing from your heart?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for revealing to us these truths about our mouths and the power we have to speak life or death to those You send us to. Fill my heart with Your love and wisdom and help me to guard it as treasure. Amen.