The Devotional

Papa “J” says

We are created beings of three dimensions. The psychological, the material and the spiritual. These are the world within us, the world around us and the world above us! These are the three areas of obedience to God, so Christ Jesus the LORD provides the way. Hebrews 12:2

I like the challenge of being an Emergency Medical Technician. I do not like seeing ill or injured people but I do like to treat them and see them respond to the treatment and get better. Each person is unique even though the treatment may be applied in the same way or by a routine method. People need to be treated as individuals without giving the impression of routine. I believe this is what make a professional person a professional. This characteristic does not develop from a book and does not come naturally. It takes training and commitment to do what you know to do it order to save, mend or comfort a person who is struggling in some physical way. It also takes knowing when and what to do for those around you who are in training to move them along the process of becoming that independent person they need to be in order for the ongoing work of encouraging and training others to follow in your footsteps. The work in any profession is ongoing and always moving forward.

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15:5-7 We see the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ moving forward in these verses in similar ways as that of being a professional Emergency Medical Technician. Paul stated in earlier verses that he delivers the truth out of the experienced heart. For him the gospel has become a professional routine and that he delivers it in truth. Thus it does not vary, he covers the LORD's death, His burial and His Resurrection. But he cautions that everyone that is helped, may not be helped if the words of the gospel are received in vain.

He clearly uses the experience of those who have are eye witnesses to this truth and claims to be one of those himself, but was born again after the initial witness of these men and women. He claims that he is the least of the apostles since he persecuted the church of Jesus Christ before believing, but he also states that he is what he is and that God will use his credentials to further the gospel and move the church along. It is ongoing and Paul's ministry will keep moving forward.

While the ministry of the gospel in not an earthly profession but more a confession of faith in God, we are still required of God to preach the gospel to each individual with the message that never changes, but is applied to each person through the power of the Holy Spirit who will bring that message in the unique and personal way that heals the soul, comforts the broken hearted and gives the spiritually dehydrated, a drink of cool living water. John 4:15.