Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the daily challenges.  This week’s topic is part of our series called EPIC where we’ve been exploring how Jesus is found throughout the Old Testament part of the Bible. We’re reading some epic old stories from the Old Testament, some of which you might have heard before, some of which might be new to you. But our hope is that in each of them we’ll see how they’re part of one big epic story: the story of the Bible, the story of the world, God’s story.

Our daily challenges are meant to help you explore what it means to follow Jesus, even if you don’t have a lot of time. That’s why we have a rhythm that keeps us in sync, even if we’re not a community that meets together in person regularly. This means every Monday we introduce the week’s idea. Every Tuesday we study it in the Bible. Every Wednesday we see how that challenges and transforms our thinking on the topic. Thursdays we try to apply and live it out. Friday is a day for prayer and reflection before we take a rest on Saturday, and Sundays we meet together with other Christians in community.

I was once a paramedic, and on a training ride with a senior paramedic, we were actively treating a man with a heart attack, things were moving fast, bombing down the road, noisy and scattered.  Patient was big, strong and fighting our help.

But all went quiet when the patient asked a simple question – “Am I having a heart attack?”

Everything stopped.  I looked at the medic, he looked back at me, and then said to the patient – “Yes”.

It was such a dramatic moment.  He laid back and allowed us to help, to bring him to the hospital, where he could be made well again.

The other paramedic didn’t tell the patient this because he was in perfect health, and wanted to stick it to this guy.  Nor did he tell the patient because he liked it.  He told him because it was true, and because he and the other medical professionals could help him, if he understood the gravity of the situation.

This week we’ll read some words written by the Prophet Jeremiah, who was the bearer of bad news from God, but for worthwhile reasons.  We’ll read about him tomorrow.

Question: When have you had to be the bearer or bad news?  Why was it worthwhile?