Another Excerpt from "Debriefing: Meditations of Hope for Those Who Protect and Serve"

Another Excerpt from “Debriefing: Meditations of Hope for Those Who Protect and Serve”

YOUR CALLING

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14 (ESV).

Being a first responder is a heavy responsibility. Not everyone can do what you do. It takes fortitude and a special gift. As you know, there’s a certain amount of inner “calling” you must own and respond to in order to embrace your role. There’s too much stress with this job without being called.

Your job is not always enjoyable. It’s a crisis-driven career with unsympathetic brass requiring long hours, shift work, and unplanned overtime. Those hours are often filled with the worst of humanity, and depending on your particular job, some blood and gore too.

Every day you face unpredictable, life-threatening, split-second decisions. Some of you do this while being filmed or even spat upon by some exasperating, uninvolved citizen. Many of you experience on-the-job injuries, court appearances, and internal investigations that cause you to be filled with skepticism, suspicion, and distrust of everyone around you.

Sometimes, the only way to cope is to joke about it with coworkers. But you are definitely called, and maybe that’s what keeps you going.

But there’s more.

There is a higher calling than simply your job. After all, your job is temporary compared to your eternal purpose beyond this limited existence.

It’s true. God prepared you for this special occupation—whether for a short season or a lifetime career. He is cheering you on, along with a host of angels and any first responders who have gone to heaven before you.

But ultimately, he has a calling on your life to know him intimately. That relationship is what makes your role most significant. Without it, your job is just another occupation—something to pay the bills.

From the beginning of time, God had a plan to dwell with mankind and have intimacy with us. That’s still his desire today for all of us. Without it, without a dedication to follow Christ, make him Lord, and live a life pleasing to your Creator, everything we do (regardless of how noble) accounts for little.

It sounds like an extreme statement, but God’s Word is clear about good works without His higher, holy calling of faith. Because even the wicked do admirable things for others (Matthew 7:11).

This heavenly calling aims to keep our eyes on Christ and our eternal purpose for being here—which goes far beyond our occupations. Your significance will then be mirrored not only on the job but at home, in your relationships, leisure, and every other area of your life. This perspective makes weak, sinful people like you and me become more like Jesus. In the words of renowned missionary C.T. Studd: “Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”[i]

My friend, be filled with hope that when you walk in your true calling as a child of God, you’re making a difference everywhere, as a light in this dark world. Your eternal calling is what’s most important, and the Lord will provide all you need to accomplish each day’s work.

Dispatch:

Colossians 3:23
Ephesians 4:1-3

Investigate:

You are a gift to your city, your county, your state, your country. God has a purpose and uses you to instill hope into those depending on you. It’s a big job, but we have a big God. As you consider what brings you significance and value in life and your reason for doing those, what motives might need reevaluating?

Debrief:

Heavenly Father, please show me if I’ve placed too much value on my career and help me keep an eternal perspective. Reveal your ultimate calling to abide close to you and draw others to you as well. As I serve my city, help me remember that higher calling to know and follow you earnestly. You could have prepared anyone else to fill this role, but you trusted and chose me. Thank you. Amen.

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