"First Responders"

 

“First Responders”

 

In the wake of the 9-11 attacks in 2001 New York City Firefighter Stephen Siller ran from Brooklyn through the Battery Tunnel to the World Trade Center site to assist his colleagues in their rescue and relief efforts. He was one of the 343 FDNY heroes who gave their lives for others on that fateful day. As a result of his sacrifice Frank Siller began the Stephen Siller Tunnels2Towers Foundation in honor of his fallen brother to assist first responders and their families. In 2021 direct public support totaled many millions of dollars, 95% going to meet the needs of those served.

First responders include police, fire and emergency medical service (EMS) personnel. Karen and I have benefitted from all three. While pastoring in Manchester our church’s involvement with a residential program for indigent men angered someone in the city who left a voice mail that our building would be burned down if we didn’t stop our support. The Police Department came and provided additional patrols on our street to protect our property (the threat was never carried out). Then a couple of years ago the Lakeland Fire Department answered our 911 call when our water heater caught fire (see “Protected” for how God’s hand was evident in this case). And in 2017 Karen fell and the EMS brought her to the hospital where she had surgery for a broken arm. We’re thankful for those who helped us during these stressful times.

In late summer into fall Pastor Brian Stowe brought a series of messages from Nehemiah with the overall theme “Desperate Dependence”. One of his primary emphases was how Nehemiah’s first response to the struggles he faced was prayer. For example, he sought God when he heard about Jerusalem’s condition (1:4-11), when he approached King Artaxerxes for permission to rebuild the city’s wall (2:4), when enemies opposed the work (4:4-5) and in his human weakness (6:9). But he didn’t stop with prayer—he made himself available to be an answer to his own prayers (1:11) and took appropriate action based on the wisdom he received in answer to his pleas to God (“…half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor.”—Nehemiah 4:16).

Others who prayed first then acted in God’s strength were Moses at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13-14) and Jehoshaphat in the face of Judah’s enemies (2 Chronicles 20:5-12). And Jesus Himself prayed all night before choosing His twelve apostles (Luke 6:12-16). Too often we pray as a last resort when we’ve already made a mess of things. So I must ask myself, “Am I a first or panic responder with prayer?”

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan