A couple of years ago, I was selected to serve on the jury of a second degree murder trial. I tried all of the usual “tricks” that people use to get out of serving:
I told the clerk I had important meetings to attend. I was ignored.
When asked my occupation by the prosecuting attorney, I said that I was a “pastor” on staff at a local church. I had heard that many ministers were dismissed from jury duty. I was wrong.
When the judge asked if I had ever been the victim of a crime, I answered affirmatively. He was fine with it. It was obvious that I wasn’t going to get out of serving.
I ended up being Juror #1.
No one on that jury was happy about being selected. Everyone wished that someone else would be selected instead of them. Not a single person on that jury denied that something needed to be decided regarding the crime that had taken place, but no one wanted to participate in the decision making process. Everyone wanted someone to be chosen for the jury, but no one wanted it to be them.
Those of us who are Christians have already gone through the selection process. Colossians 3:12 says – Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
God has chosen us to:
Clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy.
Cover ourselves with kindness.
Be filled with humility, gentleness, and patience.
Make allowance for each other’s faults.
Forgive anyone who offends us.
Clothe ourselves with love.
Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.
Always be thankful.
To let the message of Christ fill our lives.
To teach and counsel each other with the wisdom that comes from Christ.
To sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Reach out to the hurting.
Minister and proclaim good news to the poor.
Share the love of Jesus with the lost.
Visit the sick.
Preach deliverance to the captive.
Comfort the broken hearted.
Proclaim healing to the blind.
Restore the crushed in spirit.
Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into that harvest.
Be those laborers ourselves.
Fight the good fight.
Finish the race.
The equip the saints for every good work.
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
There’s really no worthwhile excuse not to participate.
Next time you think that somebody should do something about whatever issue is before you, pray and ask if you are the one who has been chosen.
JohnJFrady.com 