Firefighters

"And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh." -Jude 1:22-23 (ESV)

"And refute [so as to] convict some who dispute with you, and on some have mercy who waver and doubt. [Strive to] save others, snatching [them] out of [the] fire; on others take pity [but] with fear, loathing even the garment spotted by the flesh and polluted by their sensuality." -Jude 1:22-23 (AMP)

"Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven." -Jude 1:22-23 (MSG)

Ever since I was a little kid, I've always had the utmost respect for firefighters. What a life! Every time they put on their uniform, their lives are in danger. They're modern day super heroes, to say the least. And knowing that we're called to be spiritual firefighters on campus, at work, at home, and in every day life is a powerful thing.

As I was reading these verses, the word "snatch" popped out at me. I looked it up in the original Greek, and the word for snatch is "harpazo". It means to seize or to snatch out or away. According to Merriam Webster, snatch means "to take or grasp abruptly or hastily". Hastily means "undue (excessive) eagerness to act". As I looked even closer at these verses, God revealed to me three key points, and this is how I'll see my school rocked by Jesus.

1. Be patient.
The Message translations says, "Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith," and the ESV says, "And have mercy on those who doubt."

Firefighters are patient, but they are always ready. As soon as they get an emergency call, they're equipped and ready to go in seconds. 2 Timothy 4:2 says, "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction." When you tell someone about Jesus, chances are they're not always going to want to listen. But as you pray and intercede for them, the day will come when they ask you, "So who is this Jesus guy?" That is our emergency call. It says to "be prepared in and out of season"; basically, be ready when you feel like it and when you don't. Be patient.

2. Don't waste time.
The Amplified says, "[Strive to] save others, snatching [them] out of [the] fire." There's an urgency about it. How ridiculous would it be if a firefighter was standing outside of a burning home full of people and did nothing about it? We as Christians do this. I know I've been guilty. When our friends talk about feeling depressed and suicidal, how do we respond? Are we passive and say, "Hey it's going to be alright," or are we passionate and say, "Hey, God's got a plan and a purpose for your life. There's more than this; there's hope and you have a future." Too many times we just sit back and watch when we're called into that burning house. Just knowing that I can forever change someone's life by telling them about Jesus at the expense of my comfort, makes it worth it. I'm all up for it. I want an undue eagerness to act within me. Don't waste time.

3. Hate the sin, but love the sinner.
The Message says, "Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven." The ESV says, "...hating even the garment stained by the flesh." We can't be soft with sin, because if we are, it will eventually overcome us. But we must love the hell out of them just like Jesus did. It also says to "...show mercy with fear." This is critical. Basically, keep your guard up. Because if you're not careful, the influence will shift, and they'll be the ones influencing you. Hate the sin, but love the sinner.

Before a fireman steps into a burning house, before he even leaves the station, he's suited up. In the same way, we too must be protected with the armor of God, devotion time, and being filled with the Spirit. We may get burned, but we won't stay burned. There's always a risk when a firefighter attacks the flame, and it's one I'm willing to take. God spoke to me, "The hours we spend doing nothing, are the hours that the people we're supposed to lead to Jesus spend burning." I'm all in.

//stacey//