Briefing: If you have ever been to a wedding, and paid attention to the preacher, you have heard the ring is the symbol of never ending love. A ring is a perfect circle with no beginning and no end.

Dispatch (Assignment): Read John 15:1-17.

On the Street: The Gospel of John is an unmistakable journal of Jesus’ unexplainable love for the human race. Jesus is looking for men and women to reflect His love to the hurting, lost people of this world. Jesus is looking for a few good men and women who will put themselves in a position where they can insert themselves into the darkest moments of a person’s life. He’s looking for someone who will be there to minister to the person who has suffered great loss or personal tragedy. To take care of the person who has fallen off the wagon again. For the person who is stuck in a bad relationship who needs someone to show them love and kindness. He wants someone who will speak life into a hopeless situation or just listen to the lonely.

Don’t misunderstand me. Jesus does not need us to do His work for Him. He is not taking applications for social workers. What Jesus is looking for is a group of people who are willing to obey His command to love. If you are blessed to be serving in a law enforcement capacity, you are right where Jesus has called you to be. If you think about it, you get paid to be in the perfect ministry. Jesus loved by serving. He exemplified this when He washed His disciples’ feet and told them He was giving an example of how to love well, to serve.

In John 14:23 (NIV) Jesus explained to His disciples, “if anyone loves me, he will obey my teachings.” He told them in John 14:15 (NIV), “If you love me you will obey what I command.” I have often heard, “If Jesus makes a point to say something more than once, it must be extra important”

In this chapter, Jesus says, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love” John 15:10 (NIV). Next, Jesus tells us what His command is, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12 (NIV). If we piece all of this together we get:

If you love Jesus you will obey His commands
If you obey His commands you remain in His love

His command is love each other as He loved us

If you work the streets, you have more opportunity to love the unloved than just about any other profession. You have been given a great opportunity. I know we still have a job to do and I’m not advocating you stop enforcing the law. Our God is a just God (Micah 6:8) but you have an opportunity to show His love in ways other people will never understand. Compassion and understanding while doing your job can be life changing. Showing love and respect to the person you are taking to jail is a ministry moment that cannot be duplicated.

Investigational Resources: 1 Kings 3:11 is an excellent verse for law enforcement. Solomon asked God for discernment in administering justice and God gave it to him. This should be on our top ten list of prayer requests, to have discernment in administering justice. Roman chapter 13 is also a very good read on law enforcement being placed in position by God.

Officer Safety Principle: In Matthew 5:44 (HCSB), Jesus told the crowd, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

from The Gospel of John Through the Eyes of a Cop
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
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