Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and disciplined for prayer. Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.
1 Peter 4:7-10 HCSB
Our scripture passage tells us that the end of all things is near. This is painfully obvious each time we see a news report. God promises us His protection (Psalm 91), but He calls us to serve Him in love.
Our scripture passage tells us that each of us have received a gift and that we should use it to serve others as good managers of what God has given us.
Many people are in jobs that don’t pay a huge amount of money because this is what they were called to do. For example, I could never teach, but I have many friends and relatives that were called to teach and they are good at what they do, they love enriching the minds of young people. I have several friends who are nurses, not something I would want to do but I am glad that there are those called to serve in that way. And the person that is called to run into a burning building, no that’s not me.
To protect and serve is used as a motto in police departments across the country and speaks of the dual role of the police officer. You see, this police officer that will protect you by facing the armed intruder that is breaking into your home is the same softy that your lost child can run to.
So for those of you parents that tell your children, “If you don’t behave, that police officer is going to get you,” please don’t ever do that again. There may come a time when your child is lost or in danger and needs that police officer, don’t ever make them out to be the bad guy.
That police officer is the same one that has to respond to the scene when your loved one is killed and may have to come to your door at 2 a.m. to break the news to you.
But sadly, we are seeing an entire nation that is making police officers out to be the bad guy because of some very poor decisions made by four police officers. According to Statista there were 686,665 full-time law enforcement officers in the United States as of 2018. Now because a handful have done something horrible, there is talk of disbanding police departments? Are you kidding me?
There are bad people in every profession. If a handful of doctors have been found to be negligent, does this mean we just do away with the profession? Should we shut the schools down because we have a few bad teachers?
A week ago a city council meeting was scheduled to discuss removing our local police officers from the protection of civil service, reducing the number of officers, and cutting their pay. Ironically the meeting had to be cancelled because a mental patient planted fake bombs and called in threats to business throughout the city and drove his car through Target. God works in mysterious ways, doesn’t he? Needless to say the meeting was held on Tuesday and this one councilman was shut down.
Our scripture passage today tells us that we are in the end times. This is a time for discipline, self control, and prayer. But above all this is a time to love one another. This is a time for Christians to stand up. If you are a Christian police officer, this is the time for you to be the light that guides those around you. We must turn to Jesus and allow His Holy Spirit to guide us through the confusion and chaos that is attacking our nation and the world.
When anyone misuses their authority this is brought on by evil that is within them. Romans 12:21 tells us not to be conquered by evil, but to conquer evil with good. Now that would be a great motto for a police department.
It’s time for us to pray for others including our police officers that face what we fear. It’s time for us to all come together as Christians to combat the evil that surrounds us. There will be no need for police officers, counselors or doctors in heaven. But we’re not there yet.
In Psalm 91 God promises us His protection. In our scripture passage today we are called to serve. Are you serving God in the way that He has called you to serve? Whatever God is calling you to do, serve Him today. Pray for His protection on all those around us in these trying times. Pray for those that God has called into service to protect you. Our first responders need our prayer now today more than ever.
God protects us as He calls us to serve Him. Read our scripture passage again. Memorize it, live it out. You’ll be amazed at what God’s word can do. It’s living and active and can work through you. Through God we can bring about the change that brings order out of chaos. We can turn this mess into His message.
Have a great day!