Honor those who Serve

What does the word ministry mean to you? What comes to you mind when people speak about a ministry? Ministry for the most part means an organization or body that serves in some way to people. When people speak of ministry, most often the pictures of churches, clergy, chaplains etc come to mind, but there are other ministries that are so very important to the needs of our communities, yet are not always thought of as ministries. In the Word of God we reads in Romans 13:1
Every person must be subject to the governing authorities, for no authority exists except by God's permission. The existing authorities have been established by God, (ISV)
Understanding this scripture means that all authorities such as our local police departments, Sheriff Departments, and our fire departments are all built and set forth by the hand of God. Far too many times these men and women are not given the respect due to them. These positions are in themselves ministries. They protect and serve, save lives, and keep order in a society that would be in chaos if it were not for them. It also reads in Titus 3:1
Remind believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, and to be ready to do any honorable kind of work.
There are many different ministries in this world, and not all of them involve church related functions. Many even doing these jobs don’t think of themselves as serving God, but in reality they were placed there by his hand. True there may from time to time turn a bad apple, but God is most often quick to resolve such matters. God is a perfect and holy God, and it is not God who fails, but those in whom the task was given. As Christians we should know and understand that we are to fully obey the laws of the land, and give respect to those he places in these positions. For these reasons it is even more important that Christians stand up and engage themselves in what goes on in our country. God calls, but we must make the choice to obey and go according to that call. The voice of the Christian has sadly become far to quiet in our country, and if we are to see any real change we must be willing to step up and take that active role. As in Joshua 24:15
"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
We must take this stance, knowing “as for me and my house” We will serve the Lord. There are those that feel that Christians should not engage in the political realm, but if God is to have his hand in it, would not the Christian have to be willing to step up? If not, the only other alternative would be the other. You ask where all this going is. God is stirring his people today, speaking that we need to take a moment a give thanks to these men and women for their service. He is speaking that more of us as Christians should step up and fill more of these positions, and if we cant, then we should assist these men and women in any way we can for the glory of God.