Police Devotion 3-15-2018

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

What’s the most dangerous job for a cop? Not the most dangerous assignment, as in patrol, SWAT, or Vice, but the most dangerous JOB? Many assignments can be dangerous, but the most dangerous JOB is actually confronting a subject. Whether you’re in patrol, traffic, Vice, SWAT, or anywhere else, you’re most likely to be wounded or killed confronting a subject. As long as violent criminals are willing to prey on innocent citizens, police work will always be dangerous, and the most dangerous part of the job will always be confronting a subject.  

But someone has to do it. The mice may all agree that a bell should be put on the cat, but someone has to do the dirty work. On a raid or “shots fired” call, you have some prior danger indicators, but on a traffic stop, for instance, you may not. When you approach a subject, you don’t know his intentions. He may go easy. He may not. He may be acting smooth, looking for an opening to attack. He may be young, strong, and a better fighter than you. He may not have a gun, until he grabs yours. Now he has one, and you don’t.  

When you confront subjects, you’re acting on behalf of innocent citizens. Without you, most of them would be at the mercy of thugs, which is what thugs want. So you have to confront subjects and take the risk. When you’re proactive in confronting subjects, though, it’s exciting because you’re doing something important that’s bigger than you—helping decent people against predators.

Now look at our opening verse. The Lord Jesus gave this command—often called the Great Commission—to His believers: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” In other words, go tell people about Jesus and how they can receive Him as Saviour. Everywhere you go, tell people about Jesus.

Telling people about Jesus is the most important job of a Christian because people are not going to be forgiven for their sins and saved unless someone tells them about Jesus: “How then shall they call on him [Jesus] in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). In a way, though, it can also be scary—not dangerous scary, but uncertain scary. When you talk with someone about how he needs Jesus as Saviour, you don’t know how he’ll react. But it’s like confronting criminal subjects. You have to do it.

Even if someone is not receptive at first, you plant a seed in his heart by telling him about Jesus: “I have planted, Apollos watered;” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Or he may be ready to hear how to be saved. The greatest thing in the world is to share Christ with a sinner, he receives Jesus as Saviour, and his name is now “written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Also, “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:10). And you rejoice that God has let you have a part in it.

When you go to a Bible-believing, soul-winning church and you’re active in sharing the gospel, you’re also part of something much bigger than you, but it’s far more important than arresting criminals. You’re “labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9) in reaching precious souls with the gospel.

If you’ve never seen in the Bible how to have eternal life by receiving Jesus as your personal Saviour, please click, “Helpful Links” on the top menu and then “How Do I Go to Heaven?” on the dropdown menu.

Brian Miller 3/15/2018

 Cleveland Baptist Church | 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 | 216.671.2822