Psalm 2:10-12
O kings and rulers of the earth, listen while there is time. Serve the Lord with reverent fear; rejoice with trembling. Fall down before his Son and kiss his feet before his anger is roused and you perish. I am warning you—his wrath will soon begin. But oh, the joys of those who put their trust in him!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
“If there is one word that defined David Pryor – and the essence of his character – it is integrity.” – President Joe Biden
Last week, Arkansas lost a true statesman – 89-year-old David Hampton Pryor – who died of natural causes at his Little Rock home on April 20, 2024. A former member of the state House of Representatives, U.S. congressman, governor, and U.S. Senator, David Pryor leaves a legacy of leadership and dignity that is widely recognized and revered by people on both sides of the political aisle – and around the world.
A Washington Post article about Pryor included a recollection he once made to a reporter at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Then-Governor Pryor was working late one night and personally answered a phone call from someone who insisted on speaking with a person “no lower than the governor himself.” Pryor is said to have replied, “Ma’am, there is no one lower than the governor himself.”
If only this was our attitude today…in every walk of life! What if we all realized that as servants of the Most High God, we are all called to be humble, meek and lowly as we interact with others. What if we realized that every single person is equally important to God. What if, for all practical purposes, we ditched the “hierarchy” and simply interacted as human beings…each in need of a Savior and eager to serve Him with fear and trembling. Imagine if our daily aim was to go where God sends us, and to minister to others as He directs – full stop!
Today’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette contains a column written by Paul Prather, a rural pastor in Kentucky, who relates that at the age of 19, he had an epiphany. Prather had given up on God and declared himself an atheist. Then one night, God appeared to Prather in his bedroom and showed him a stadium filled with people at the University of Kentucky, where the young man was soon to enroll. Prather “saw” God enter the heart of one person after another and fill them with unconditional love. He realized that the vengeful, punishing God of his childhood was not real…God is 100% pure love – for each of us!
Prather remembers audibly telling God that He was nothing like he’d been told. And he went on to tell readers that God loves each of us “beyond all human understanding.” I believe David Pryor understood this, too, and I thank God for his example of how to govern, lead and serve. This should be our aim, as well. Regardless of our “station” or how “low” or “high” we are, it’s time to start operating in love, humility, and genuine service of others – for the glory of God, who loves us all. We are incredibly loved servants of the Most High God. It’s time to act like it! Alleluia!
©2024 Debbie Robus
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