Lent Devotional – Serve

When I think about how Jesus influences my professional life as a city manager, I think of him as the ultimate public servant. Serving others is more than keeping up with your to-do list. To be a servant means we genuinely need to care about people.

As a healer, Jesus took care of those who were sick and injured. When I look at how our paramedics provide essential emergency medical services, I think Jesus would be pleased that we too are taking care of his people. But our work culture goes beyond administering medication and transporting a person to a medical facility, as Jesus taught us to love one another, we show our compassion for God’s children by holding the hands of those experiencing illness and offering soothing words to those who are hurting.

The provision of safe drinking water is the most important service we provide as a city. Water is essential to our not only our physical well-being but also an indispensable element in our spirituality. Just think about how Jesus used water throughout his journey. The story of Jesus at the well when he asked the Samaritan women for a drink, Jesus walking on water, and Jesus washing the feet of others just to name a few.

Jesus also loved children and wanted them to be near Him. Our city parks serve as a gathering place for children to play and I can just image Jesus waiting at the end of the slide to catch one of his beloved children or Jesus playing a game of catch to help a child learn how to play ball. Thank you, God, for your son Jesus Christ, who continue to be our role model in providing service to others.

Joni Clarke

Lucas City Manager