GO READ THIS....NOW!!!

Feeling complacent? Follow this recipe from Micah 6:8... one part acting justly...one part loving mercy...one part walking humbly...mix thoroughly and receive contentment and joy.

First Responder

When Aimee and I met I was working for a hospital as an outreach Athletic Trainer providing healthcare and emergency response for the local high school. I was the first responder for all medical emergencies. Prior to that gig, I found myself covering multiple sports at the University level and following that gig, I helped cover a couple of sporting venues while I finished up my Doctoral studies. During those 9 years as a clinical athletic trainer and first responder, I saw more than a few athletes receive a mechanical blow to the head and lose consciousness. Many times, I have found myself coming to the aid of an athlete who had lost consciousness and was unresponsive…they were “out cold”. The first glance of a person on the ground in this motionless state brings the immediate realization of the seriousness of injury. They look to be lifeless and they are completely helpless. Of all the injuries known to result from participation in sport, this is the one that has intrigued me the most. In fact, since 2000, this state of being and its associated mechanisms (causes) has been the primary focus of my research. This is probably why the scripture I came across yesterday while reading stopped me in my tracks…it floored me. You see, within the opening portions of the book of Romans, Paul is explaining the relevance of the law to the gentiles. In chapter 3 verse 20, Paul writes …for by the law is the knowledge of sin. My first thought was that I have heard this scripture preached and taught, but it had never stopped me and begged for exploration and furthermore, understanding. So, as I let that sink in a bit, I began to explore the word knowledge. Through various commentaries and such, I came to find that this word is synonymous with the term consciousness…consciousness relates to alertness, awareness, and cognition. Consciousness or the knowledge of sin, afforded to us by the law. WOW!!  Did you catch that?

 

Let me lay it down for you as it has been spiritually etched into my heart. We live and work in a crazy, mixed up world. Because of the fall, it is very different from that which was intended and designed for us…we are born into sin…we are born into this world in a state of unconsciousness and continue this lack of awareness until we accept Christ into our lives and develop an intimate relationship with Him.  But often, way too often, this is ignored or even forgotten…and thus, I find myself not responding appropriately.  In the past, when I have witnessed an athlete on the playing field who is lying still and unresponsive, I know to act as if their life depends upon it. I immediately realize the seriousness of the condition. Concern and compassion kicks in, training is followed and my body responds accordingly to the stresses placed upon it by this dire situation…heart rate raises, anxiety creeps in, concern develops, care is administered with accuracy and expediency…this is a LIFE or DEATH situation.

 

I walk across campus, through the mall, through the grocery store, among friends, colleagues, students, and loved-ones. I am surrounded by people who are physically alive, but are spiritually dead…they are unconscious to sin. They are not alert to the dangers that are before them, they are unaware of the evil that envelops them…they are unconcerned and eternally lifeless…they are obviously and undeniably “out cold” and I…I find myself ignoring the situation. I do not respond accordingly. Instead, I find myself getting frustrated with folks who act so “un-Christian”…I expect people who do not claim to know Christ to behave like they do. For instance, when people at work act selfishly and lie, cheat, steal, slander…I get frustrated and often avoid these people. Upon a closer reflection to justify my actions…I realized I avoid them so as not to fall prey to their actions in anger and to ruin my Christian witness….WHAT? UUURRRRRRKKKKKK (this is me slamming on the brakes for a spiritual GUT check!).

1)      We must understand our environment…we should expect a person who is unconscious to act like they are unconscious! We should not RUN away and avoid, but pray for strength to maintain a Christian witness among and around these people.

2)      We must respond to the unconscious person (victim)…. We must immediately realize the seriousness of the condition. Our concern and compassion should be modeled after the concern and compassion Christ had for all mankind at Calvary.

We must be the salt that prevents decay and adds flavor and we must be the light that exposes all darkness…we must act in obedience to glorify our Father and live in pursuit of the perfect standard He himself set for us during his time on earth. Above all, we must live out our passion for Christ who is passionate for us…it is and will forever be, the greatest story ever told.  

New Post over at Little Footsteps.

To save time, I put my devotional thought for the week over at my blog.

Click this link to read up on how God is continually kicking my rear.

And Scott, if it's okay with you, I'm going to "dress" the place up a little bit. It needs some atmosphere.

Peace,
Joanna