Day 4–God’s Amazing Promise
Scripture reading for January 22: John 14:13-14 “Whatever you ask in My Name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My Name, I will do it.”
God’s emergency response communication network is built on personal relationships. God reaches out to each person inviting them into a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus builds a friendship with each person and knows all about them and their strengths, gifts and weaknesses. He invites each person to get to know Him and to become comfortable asking for information or direction and walking by faith with Him. Jesus prepares those who walk with Him to become disciples and then sends them out to respond to those who are hurting or in need.
Out of our relationship with Jesus, He invites and encourages each person to ask the Father in His Name for whatever they have need of. As men and women have called upon the Lord and walked with the Lord for thousands of years, Jesus calls His followers to do the same. His Name represents all that He is as King of kings and Lord of lords. It gives access to His power and knowledge and insight. This promise reveals God’s desire to show us love in meeting our needs, regardless of cost. It promises continuous access to God and His emergency call-in system.
We already know how important relationships are in the function of fast and effective response to incidents. We can see how we can draw on other resources not provided through our job but through our relationship with Jesus. Wise first responders maintain healthy relationships in the departments we serve in and with our Lord through daily prayer and devotions.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for providing a simple plan of communications that provides access to whatever we need through asking You in Jesus’ Name. Help me to remember this communication promise and humbly ask You for the help needed as I do the best I can with what You gave me. Amen.
Day 3–Walking with God
Scripture reading for January 21: Genesis 6:8-9 “But Noah found favor (grace) in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”
When I was in my early teens, my father and I were called by a frantic neighbor to come help rescue his son who had an accident with a tractor. This son had been up all night at a prom, and was doing chores on the dairy farm. He was hauling manure and spreading it on a field when he fell asleep and went down a sharp embankment to the creek-bed below. My dad and I were the first on the scene and dad helped me to lift a tractor tire off this boy and asked me to hold his head out of the water of the creek. I held up the tire and began to pray. His legs were still trapped in the soft mud under the overturned tractor. I called upon the Lord and prayed the scripture that I had just memorized, Psalm 23. My dad got a spade and dug under the trapped leg, freeing him. He was bruised, lacerated, but saved from death that day. God’s grace had provided for this young man and the responders!
Noah was a blameless man who found favor with God because of his simple faith. God had revealed a coming flood that would destroy the world. He asked Noah to build an ark for himself, his family, and two of every species of animals. Noah chose to walk with God through this process and follow His specific directions. A side note, the ark God had Noah build did not have an engine, sail, or rudder. God would guide them through the flood!
As first responders, we can face impossible or trying situations that are beyond our natural understanding or abilities. Not only does God answer prayers, He often leads us to provide the answer. It strengthens us to know that we are not alone as we say ‘yes’ to cries for help. All things are possible to those who walk in faith.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for inviting us all to walk with You throughout life. Teach me Your ways and lead me through the trials. As a responder, I know that I need Your grace and favor each day. Amen.
Day 2–Calling on the Lord
Scripture reading for January 20: Genesis 4:26 “To Seth also a son was born, and he called His name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the Name of the Lord.”
The emergency contact system in our country is organized around our phone system. Almost everyone has cell phones and can be contacted at anytime. The 911 Emergency call center in each county or municipality is manned at all times by trained listeners. They answer the calls for help and ask pertinent questions to determine the location of the individual and the nature of their problem. They then contact the appropriate emergency personnel to assist in a timely manner. So we might say that in our culture when in an emergency, call ‘911’ for a dependable response.
God encourages His children to call upon Him in the time of trouble. (Psalm 50:15) He says that honors Him and He will deliver us. We see from today’s Scripture taken from Genesis that after Cain killed Abel, Seth was born to Adam and Eve as another child who could walk by faith. Seth had a son, Enosh and it is recorded that during his life, people began to call on the Name of the Lord. It appears that Adam and Eve began to train their children and grandchildren, those who would humbly listen, that they needed to always ask God for their needs and become people who prayed.
God wants each person to know Him personally and learn to personally call on Him. God revealed His Name to many of the early men and women as answers to their cries for assistance. Genesis 21:17-18 describes how Hagar and her young son Ishmael were sent into the desert and cried out to God. “Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is,” was God’s reply. He is the God Who hears.
As responders, we must always live in humble dependence that God is involved in each incident and knows each person involved. I always call out to God as I respond for the wisdom that I and the other responders will need. I ask for direction and the provision to effectively help the hurting. Even though ‘911’ may have helped direct, I know that God is over all.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for always hearing and answering the cries of Your people. What a comfort for us to be able to call upon You in each incident. Amen.
Week 4–Day 1–911–God’s Emergency Number
Scripture reading for January 19: “. . . and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me.”
In our country we use an emergency number that is easy for most people to remember: ‘911.’ When an accident happens or an emergency requires help from first responders, anyone with a phone can simply dial ‘911’ and an operator from the local emergency response center will take down your location and the nature of your need and dispatch the right first responders to handle that specific incident.
As a first responder, I carry either a pager or a cell phone with an application that is called “I Am Responding”. This is the one used in our county but there are others available that do the same thing. I am a volunteer and upon receiving a brief summary of the problem and the location in our county, I decide whether I can respond in a timely manner to bring the assistance. I text the ‘911’ operator how I am responding. I may just respond ‘Standby’ if others are enroute. If I can respond, I text “I am responding” and give the location that I will respond to. I can either go to the scene of the incident or to the fire station No. 1 or No. 2 to pick up gear and fire equipment as needed. As I leave the station with the truck and equipment, I report that I am enroute. I use the app to follow the map to the scene. The operator can then track me in my response location.
I find many parallels in this system designed by man to help organize response with how God responds through His children to meet the needs of hurting people. God encourages His people to call out to Him in our time of need. We are to specifically state the need and ask in faith for His assistance. He says that we honor Him when we faithfully call out. He promises the help we need and this brings Him glory to show His loving care and provision. He knows right where we are and sends out those that will willingly serve us with the proper equipment and training.
Father God, Thank You that You hear every ‘911’ call of Your children and even those who do not know You. You send the help needed from willing responders. I offer myself to respond on Your behalf. Teach me to follow Your amazing system. Amen.
Week 3 Video Responder highlight–Mt. Washington Fire Department Chaplain Steve G.
This week’s interview is with a firefighter and chaplain of his fire department in Mt. Washington, Kentucky. Steve has served the Lord for many years as a believer and disciple in his local church in Louisville. He joined the fire department as a way to use his talents and to serve God and others in need. I have known Steve and his family for many years and value his heart to serve and his walk with Jesus Christ.
Day 5: Jesus Takes our Service Personally
Scripture reading for January 16: Matthew 25:34-35 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.” . . vs. 40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.'”
To understand His response to hurting people, we must listen to Jesus telling a story about those serving a King. The King is Jesus, the Son of Man, and in a future time He would return in glory with all His angels. He would gather the people from all nations before Him and separate them into two groups, like a shepherd separates sheep and goats. The sheep would be put on His right and commended for their works of faith. The Father would bless them with a full inheritance in the kingdom of heaven prepared for them from before creation of the world!
Those chosen to be on the King’s right hand were commended for helping hurting people, but in a different way. The King told them that as they had fed hungry people, they were in a real sense feeding Him. As they had clothed the naked and visited the sick and imprisoned, they were really clothing Jesus and visiting Him. He taught them the principle that as they offered mercy to weak and hurting people, they were really blessing King Jesus Who Himself had sent them to serve on His behalf.
As responders, we are not serving just ourselves. Our mindset should be that we are under authority and accountable for our service to those over us as well as our Lord Who is with us. We should remember that it is not for money or fame that we serve, but to please our Father will bring eternal rewards. Every call for help is response to our Savior.
Prayer: Father God, help me to remember that as I am called to serve hurting people, I am really serving You. I want to enjoy the blessing of faithful servants. May those I help experience Jesus’ love and compassion through me. Amen.
Day 4–Jesus Respects Individuals
Scripture reading for January 15: Matthew 20:30-33 “And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them. telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us Son of David.” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”
Jesus dealt with each person specifically in the manner needed to bring faith to results. As a Jewish rabbi, He often used questions to provoke faith in those in need. These blind men were sitting by the roadside, probably begging to meet their needs. Their usual request was for alms or sustenance to meet physical needs. The idea that their eyes could be opened again by any man or even God was probably not at the forefront of their thinking. But word of Jesus’ miracles of healing had reached their ears sparking faith to cry out to Him for His attention. The crowd rebuked them to be silent, marginalizing these blind men as unimportant to the rabbi Jesus.
Jesus took time to personally minister to them, asking them directly, “What do you want Me to do for you?” This respected their integrity and choices and treated them with dignity. They addressed Jesus as “Lord” and “Son of David”, which were respectful and full of faith in Jesus’ divinity. Jesus listened to their response to His question and in turn touched their eyes with great compassion. Scripture records that immediately they recovered their sight and followed Him. (Matthew 21:34)
As responders, treating each person with dignity and respect is vitally important. As a responder and chaplain, I always ask questions to find the need in each situation. If as a believer in Jesus, I feel that prayer is required, I always ask if this would be acceptable to the person. I try to stay calm and act in kindness and gentleness, reflecting the heart of Jesus. My goal is to inspire faith and meet the real needs of each unique person.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the kindness and respect You show even to those that have disrespected You. Help me daily to learn to ask questions and respect the sovereignty of the individuals You allow me to touch for You. Amen.
Day 3–Jesus is Able!
Scripture reading for January 13: Matthew 9:27-30 “And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us Son of David.” When He entered the house, the blind men came to him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.””
Jesus was always going to where there were hurting people. We learn from Scripture that it is faith that pleases God. In this incident, two blind men called out to Jesus, addressing Him as “Lord” and asking Him for mercy. As they followed Him, calling out, Jesus entered a house and they came up to him. Jesus drew out their faith with a question that revealed whether their faith was genuine. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” was Jesus personal question to them. It is one thing to ask Jesus for mercy, but it is another to truly believe that Jesus has the ability and power to do it. Jesus showed His love for them by respecting their integrity and ability to choose.
These two men answered “Yes, Lord.” This simple act of trust in Jesus moved Jesus to touch their blind eyes and declare a confirming Word: “According to your faith, be it done to you.” It was recorded that their eyes were immediately opened! Imagine the joy and rejoicing in these two men and their families after years of darkness and despair! Jesus loved to honor faith and demonstrated His Father’s will to heal and open blind eyes!
As first responders, we must always seek to walk by faith into every incident or accident. Like Jesus, we are willing to go where the hurting are. We also ask key questions to assess each patient or victim to find out how to help them. We also keep calm and speak by faith to bring out faith and encouragement to those who are hurting. Our love for God and hurting people moves us to action.
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You are able and willing to help those who come to You for mercy. Remind me of this truth each day that You send me out to help those in difficult circumstances. Amen.
Day 2–Jesus Respects Faith
Scripture reading: Matthew 8:13 “And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go, let it be done for you as you have believed.”
A Roman centurion, a military commander over one hundred men, came to Jesus asking for healing for a servant that was paralyzed and suffering at his home. Jesus told him that He would come and heal him. (Matthew 8:5-12) But this centurion spoke a word of faith to Jesus that caused Jesus to marvel and declare the servant healed. This centurion asked Jesus just to speak a command to the affliction and that he understood that the paralysis would leave. The centurion understood authority as he was a man who himself was under authority. Under that authority, he exercised authority over those assigned to his unit. He simply spoke commands and the men obeyed him and did what he commanded.
Jesus marveled at this man’s understanding of authority and his faith in the spoken command of one in authority. He called His followers and proclaimed that this man had greater faith than any He had observed in Israel! Jesus warned the disciples and Jews that only those with genuine faith would enter the kingdom. Some who professed to have faith would lose out of their reward because their faith was not genuine. The centurion was rewarded with Jesus’ simple declaration. He could go on his way knowing that as he had believed, it was already done!
As first responders, we are those under authority of our assigned leaders. We are to obey the commands given to us and work within the established guidelines. If we are in command over an incident or response team, we must give clear instructions and trust those with us to obey. Respecting authority and exercising servant leadership are key elements to help us succeed and respond properly. As believers in Jesus, we are always under His authority. Remembering this and acting in faith on His Word can give us confidence that He will be present with us to fulfill His Word.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for establishing authority and being the Supreme Authority over all authority. Help me to respect those You have placed in authority and cooperate with them. Help me to exercise authority humbly as a servant leader to accomplish Your will. Amen.
Week 3–Day 1–Jesus Responds Willingly!
Scripture reading for January 12: Matthew 8:2-3 “And behold, a leper came to Him and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You will, You can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
Leprosy was a difficult disease to deal with in Bible times. Lepers were quarantined to keep them from spreading it to others. No one was to touch a leper or they would become ‘unclean’ themselves. The leprosy would eat up the skin, the body’s protective layer and expose flesh to disease and infection. Open sores would often develop and the person would become disfigured. On top of this, the spiritual implications of the one with leprosy brought accusation of God’s punishment for sins committed or in the person’s background. It was against this backdrop that this leper approached Jesus with the question of His willingness to get involved.
But Jesus did not hesitate to respond to the leper who believed that Jesus could heal him. Jesus reached out and touched him with his hand, while declaring His willingness and giving a simple command to be clean. The results were immediately obvious! The effects of leprosy vanished right before their eyes. I imagine that the flesh healed and grew back and all sores dried up. Jesus told him to go and worship, offering the sacrifice commanded in God’s law after cleansing. He was to tell no one who had touched him. Jesus did not do anything for fame or boasting, but to demonstrate His Father’s love.
One of the marks of first responders is their willingness to go where the hurting people are. During the recent covid epidemic that spread over the world and our country, I was called on, with many other responders, to go to help those that were infected. We would don masks and gloves and even protective clothes to reach out to those who society considered ‘unclean’. We went by faith, trusting our training and our Lord to protect us while we worked.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for being willing to come near and touch those who are ‘unclean’ because of sin or affliction. This example of Jesus reassures me of Your calling on my life to be willing and available to those that others may consider untouchable. Give me faith each day to respond. Amen.