December 19, 2012
First Responders
In reporting on the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting one TV
reporter described the first responders as being “trained to be heroes.” My thoughts turned to our training as
believers. While I don’t think we are training to be heroes, I do wonder how
many of us would consider ourselves to be first responders. For instance, if
someone wants to know more about Jesus, do we recommend that they go see the
preacher? Or when someone is ill do we tell them they need to schedule a time
with the elders to be prayed over? The Apostle Paul gave this charge to
Timothy: “Preach the Word; be prepared in
season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and
careful instruction.” (2 Tim 4:2 NIV)
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1 comment:
Gail;
-----What a novel little truth! Everybody is a first responder to the event occurring in his presence. And it fits quite well into my cynical comparison of this life to a shipwreck at sea. Everybody has problems and there’s always something going wrong somewhere. But in as much as we’ve been drawn into the lifeboat at the shipwreck, we begin to live in it the kingdom of heaven which Paul said is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Regardless of one’s ability to fill in all the details about Jesus to a fellow shipmate yet bobbing in the sea, responding with the nature of that kingdom to each of life’s events as it crosses one’s path makes the lifeboat attractive to the bobbers still in the sea.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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