Firefighters

When I'm called to duty God wherever flames may rage, give me strength to save a life whatever be its age. Help me to embrace a little child before it is too late or save an older person from the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert, to hear the weakest shout and quickly and efficiently to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me, to guard my neighbor and protect his property. And if according to your will I have to lose my life bless with your protecting hand my children and my mate.

The above is what we have all come to know as the “Firefighters Prayer”. I have been praying for our local firefighters, for wisdom and strength with all the current fires in our area and I must admit I am so thankful for their service. As I was thinking over this poem last night I couldn’t help but think of Heaven and Hell and ask myself am I a spiritual firefighter?
God has called me to duty, the flames are constantly raging. I must give the gospel to both young and old, whatever be their age. As a Christian the bible tells us to take care of the widows and the orphans, as a Christian, am I embracing those who need it before it is too late, am I warning all the lost of the horror of their fate. I pray for wisdom to have the words to lead those closest to hell to Christ, and to hear the simplest cry and most desperate shout for love, to give them nothing but Jesus and compassion. I want to fill my calling as a Christian, to give the best in me, to love and help those around me. And if according to Gods will I have to lose my life, I pray He protect my family.

I was watching a show the other day about a fire chief who asked his fireman to give him 200% what he didn’t know was the building he sent his fireman in…he wouldn’t walk out of. From that day on the fire chief blamed himself for the death, he couldn’t deal with it. Until an older fire chief came up and gave him some words of wisdom. “If you really loved him, don’t make his sacrifice small by making it just about you.” How many ways could we apply that to our lives? Do we make Christ’s sacrifice small by never sharing it? Do I make my father’s life/death small by minimizing his love and life with sorrow and death or should I be loving others as he loved me.