As God’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:18-20), we have the undeserved privilege, joy, and responsibility of addressing the many needs around us in this broken, dangerous world. We all live in a battlefield of sorts, in harm’s way, bullets whizzing by our heads. There are casualties all around us. Brokenness. God’s word designates us priests of God (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 20:6), with the responsibility of interpreting His truth to the suffering and confused around us, helping them to understand God’s perspective on what is happening in this world.  Some characteristics of First Responders might be:

•  Ready to offer needed help
• Visible to those who might recognize their need and express their desire for help
• Practiced at giving the expert help that is needed

“Deliver those who are being taken away to death,
And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.
If you say, “See, we did not know this,”
Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?
And does He not know it who keeps your soul?
And will He not render to man according to his work?”         Proverbs 24:11-12

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”      2 Timothy 4:2

“For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”       Matthew 24:44-47

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”     Matthew 5:16

“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”                            Acts 4:13

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”                    2 Timothy 2:15