Free to be a Servant

Good afternoon, everyone! What a tremendous privilege and blessing it is for us to stand here at the very foot of the Hancock County Courthouse, the seat and symbol of our local government, and lift up our voices in prayer to the God that we serve! My name is Don Rodgers and local government has become my career. And in the quiet, thoughtful moments of my life I allow myself to take pride in that fact, because the Bible tells me that all human governments are established by God. And then my pride turns to humility, because the Bible also informs us that all those who work in government are servants of God, to do good for the people. In our discipleship group at church we have been walking together through the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a person who saw a great need in his community. He got himself appointed to do a great work for the people. Before he began that work, he prayed. And the hallmark of his prayer is that Nehemiah identified himself with his people. And that speaks to me today, and I hope it speaks to you, because what I get from Nehemiah is that from his perspective as a citizen, and from his position as a government official, there was no “them”. There was only “us”. If there is a task left undone; if there is fault to assign; if there is a burden to bear or a blessing to receive it does not belong to “them”. It belongs to “us”! Father in Heaven we thank you today for the government that you have established in this Great Nation, in our state, and in this very community. This government of the people, by the people and for the people. Father, I confess that as a people we have not always governed ourselves with wisdom and righteousness. Thank you, God, for your patience, your mercy, and your faithfulness. Father, I pray that, by your grace, you would grant each of our government officials the wisdom to see the truth, and the courage to respond to the truth. And as we work from our offices and from our pick-up trucks, as we file documents and fill potholes, grant us the appropriate measures of pride and humility that we need to serve the people that you love. And, Lord Jesus, as citizens of this Great Nation, and of this proud community, please grant us the integrity and the fortitude that we need to serve in our government. And grant us, by your grace, the wisdom and humility to submit to the authority that you have established. Remind us, Father, by your Holy Spirit, that we are a free people. Free to be your servants, and free to serve one another. Amen