SERIES: Why I Support and Pray for Local Law Enforcement (1 of 5)
Because your authority originated with God 

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” * ~ the Apostle Paul, New Testament author

Of all the various institutions we recognize today, only three were ordained by God Himself: 

1) The Church   2) Family   3) Government

I am excited that my local police department has chosen to team with local clergy through our organization and I am thankful for the opportunity to serve and show support for you, our officers.  Although we serve different purposes, you and I both have chosen to serve our community. I believe God has chosen, sent and ordained you for your service just as much as He has sent me for mine.

You might say, “So what does that mean?” I believe it should be an encouragement to realize that you are doing work ordained by God Himself.  He sent you, and I believe it’s 100% within God’s will to pray that He protect you and help you do the job He called you. 

My prayer for you this week is that you know you are appreciated as you walk in integrity, compassion and fairness, exercising the authority entrusted to you by God and our City. 
Pastor Rob  
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* There is no excuse for the abuse of authority. The Apostle Paul also said, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” which includes those in position of authority.

Links to other posts in this series: Why I Support and Pray for Local Law Enforcement- Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

I have lost count how many Facebook posts or replies I have deleted-before-sending in the last couple of months. First the safety—opening up debate and now the unrest in our country and the debates that sparks. I just saw this Bill Bullard quote last week, but I guess I had a personal epiphany about this a few weeks ago. Opinions are STRONG on either side of an issue (and I am one of the strongly opinionated), but what finally got through to me is the thought that people’s idea of what is best is often based on issues/struggles in their lives which I have not lived.  
  
I also ran across this quote last week. “Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. ALWAYS.” What really impacted me was who the quote was attributed to...Robin Williams. Who ever would have known that a man who spent his life making other people laugh was dealing with issues that would drive him to levels of despair leading to the taking of his own life?

This may sound very simple or small, but my choice to be more empathetic on Facebook is helping me become more like the person I want to be. I don’t think my personal opinions are any less strong, but when I’ve forced myself to stop before sending/posting, I have managed to stop and ponder what a person might be going through/has gone through that makes them feel so strongly about an issue. Sometimes I can’t imagine what would make somebody say/do what they said or did (they are just angry), so I let it go...and BOTH of these responses bring a lot more peace to me personally. More peace and I’m a better person because of empathy.

We all have encountered some who cannot have a rational, civil conversation, so let’s just let that go, and work on ourselves to become better people. On your job, you frequently have to withhold your opinion. My prayer for you this week is that it wouldn’t stop there, but that on a human level, you and I could both become more empathetic. 

Your service is appreciated,
​Pastor Rob

I read this story from the history of ancient Israel a few days ago and it inspired my thought/prayer for officers this week:

When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place. ”But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.” So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there. 

The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?” “It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!” 

Wow, how great would that be if every time bad people tried to make plans their plans were revealed and they could not carry them out? In this time of rioting, looting and violence across our nation and what we are experiencing in our City, this is my prayer for you and the Department this week. I am praying that darkness would be revealed and brought into the light. May every area of intelligence gathering be fruitful whether it is what you learn talking to citizens on your beat, from social media, from “unrelated” arrests or from wherever it comes. May God shine light on the darkness to defeat evil and to keep YOU safe as you protect our City.

As always, I’m praying for your safety and wisdom as you not only have to watch out for yourself and fellow officers, but as every move you make is put under the microscope. THANK YOU for serving our City.

Your service is appreciated and I am praying for you today,
Pastor Rob