READ: JONAH 1
The Lord gave this message to Jonah: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgement against it because I have seen how wicked the people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. (Vs. 1-3)
A Brother Officer is on his second tour of duty as a police officer. During his first tour he became disillusioned by the nature of the job. After trying some time in a civilian position, he realized he was being called back to police service. This time his eyes were wide open as he knew the challenges he would face each day. He is a man of faith and counts upon Jesus to help him through each shift. He is currently a Field Training Officer charged with the responsibility of showing newly minted Officers how to do the job the right way. I send him copies of my weekly devotions for encouragement and we exchange emails from time to time. Here is the content of an email I received from him on May 9, 2025:
“Had a great interaction I felt like sharing. (I also share here because it helps me remember later on). Today I saw an older guy trying to buy his dinner at an In and Out burger with coins and asking what he could get. A part of me wanted to demonstrate to my trainee, who is in his second week as a cop, how to recognize a need and respond. I bought his dinner for him, and I can count on one hand how many times I have done that but I could tell this was different.
He came up to me and asked to shake my hand and tried to give my change back to me while he was crying. He told me he had just went to church this last week at Palmcroft Baptist and they told him he would be blessed soon. I didn’t know how to respond because I did not feel like my help was enough at that moment. But it was to him.
I think my original intention was something more to prove a point, but it turned into something I didn’t expect. I am finding the balance of vigilance and humility to be challenging at times. I just want to share the weird way God has impacted my return to this career and is changing how I approach my duties and what I’m seeing now as a cop that I didn’t see as an aggressive face paced officer.”
Indeed, he had an interaction sparked by God. One that he did not turn and walk away from. I have no doubt his reaction had an impact on his Trainee; helped a stranger see Jesus in through a cop; and verified God’s calling for his return to police service. (Recently he passed all the Sergeants exams and is looking at a promotion in 2026. Imagine the power of his faith influence upon a whole shift of officers—God at work!)
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER
Jonah and my friend, lives separated by a few thousand years. God called both—one ran, and one followed the call of the Spirit. With whom do you identify?
Dear God, open my heart to your voice that I may serve and bring Glory to your name.