We all have our own spiritual journey and they involve other people. Maybe a mom or grandma that first took you to church, introduced you to Jesus, modeled Christian living for you. Maybe it was a friend that invited you to a life group or bible study where you really studied God’s Word. Maybe it was a pastor who you connected with. People that have been instrumental in your spiritual journey. Our journeys all look different, and hopefully draw you closer to the Lord with each new day. Take some time today to thank those who have been instrumental in your spiritual journey. I pray that your journey leads you to know the Lord a little better and love Him a little more each and every day! One of the people that God has put in my life has enhanced my knowledge of God’s Word and my desire to serve God each day… is Ken Braun. He is one of my mentors as well as a great friend. We were communicating this week and he had an idea for a devotion…so I asked him to write it… here it is!
THANKS FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS
At this point in the pandemic, we are so thankful for the first responders, the people on the front lines who are giving us hope and security. Thanks to the doctors and nurses, the grocery store workers, the food industry laborers, the police and fire personnel. We owe them a great debt.
But there is another First Responder Who we thank and praise and turn to during this scary time: Jesus, our great Rescuer. He came into our world that was suffering under the pandemic of sin, showing itself day by day with sickness of soul, egotism, heartache and death.
Paul put it this way: “When the time had come, God sent His Son, made of a woman, born under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” Galatians 4:4
God sent Jesus, not to provide an inoculation so we wouldn’t catch the sin-disease. It was too late for that. We all had it! Jesus came to provide a cure for it. On earth, He showed people how it looked to be free of the disease. He came not to be served but to serve. Matthew 20:28 Healing, dealing compassionately with all, thinking of others before self.
On the cross he took every virus of sin on the earth, every possible occurrence of it from day one of the world until the last day of it into His body. He became sin-sick and died to wipe out the disease. He is the cure. Those who see that, live new lives, lives that aren’t overcome by the disease, and lives that know where to go for the only cure when the disease attacks and tries to infest. They turn to Christ for another dose of forgiveness.
As those of us who are Christ-followers are called Christians, or little Christs, so we are also little first responders. We are those who are freed from sin to look to bring life to others. Be a little first responder. Look around for where you can bring some life in the middle of: home confinement, job loss, sickness and sometimes death. Make the phone call, send the card, say “thank you” to those who are front line workers, pray for those God brings across your path. As He did not come to be served but to serve, you can reach out to bring the sure medicine of the love and forgiveness of Christ to others.
Thanks Ken for a great devotion!
If you need to talk to someone give me (Pastor Dave) a call at 440-237-7958 ext.118