Sunday evening I had the privileged to give a prayer at a dedication of a Ten Commandments monument at St. Paul's AME church. I'm not sure what all I did pray, but this is what I wrote and meant to pray.....
"Oh, Lord our God, we come before you thanking you. You are the one that has brought us out of bondage, and while we struggle as a people and as your people with bondages we allow to ensnare us, still we thank you for the salvation we have in you through Jesus Christ. What a blessing you are. We have your love and grace; we don’t deserve it, but here it is.
"We think of the law that you gave us, always remembering
that the law is summarized by 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
And ‘You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.' The whole of the Law and the Prophets depends
on these two commandments." We
understand that.
"And as a nation you have given to us these laws, knowing
that if we even got close to keeping them, your truth and justice would
prevail, and that as a people we would treat each other acknowledging that you
created all people, all people, in your image.
For our failings, we beg forgiveness. Maybe we have come far, but sometimes Lord
it’s hard to see.
"You have given us your truth. That you are the only God there is, and that
your supremacy has been revealed to us in your son, Jesus. Yet we live in a time where truth is being
trodden over by the wisdom of this age.
Yet, Father, we live in a time where your truth perhaps has never been
needed more. We pray for this land, I
pray that your Holy Spirit would ignite a new yearning for truth, truth that is
found only in Jesus Christ. I ask that
you would use powerfully everyone that has gathered here at this holy place
this evening, to reach out in love and share the truth, a truth that this city,
this county this nation needs.
Jesus. It’s all about Jesus.
"When one reads these commandments, on how to love you and
love each other, we also realize that if we were to live by these laws that we
would live in a land and a world that is truly just. Again Father, sometimes we feel we have made
progress, only to discover our failing and shortcomings in being just with one
another, and certainly with you. For
that again I beg forgiveness, and thank you for your mercy.
"Heal this land, let your justice ring across our land and
deep into our hearts. And if our hearts are too hard… melt them, mold them,
change them. Change me Lord.
"As a nation….help us to honor you; this evening, may what
we are doing honor you first and foremost, as your people help us to honor
you, love each other, and reach out in
truth and justice Your truth Jesus…your
justice.
I pray these things in the power and saving name of Jesus
Christ. Amen."
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