I awakened this morning with scripture on my mind. After watching election returns, like most of you, I found these words from Paul quite appropriate. Please read them carefully for the things they say and do not say.
"I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and ALL those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (I Timothy2:1-4)
It is rather easy to become engrossed in politics,and other matters, and lose sight of that which really pleases God. Here in these verses Paul reminds the Christian what pleases God.
We are to PRAY and BE THANKFUL for all those in authority. We are to do it for a single purpose. That purpose is that we can live peaceful and quiet lives, and in that setting, do our part in leading people to be saved and grasp the knowledge of the truth of God.
You and I who are Christians are to be doing that every day. We should pray for those in authority today, as well as those who receive mantles of authority in January. As I hear these words speaking to me they seem to say the purpose of our prayers are , that in our quiet and peaceful lives, we might be about the purpose God has for us. That purpose is sharing His truth to a host of persons all about us who are without Christ and without hope.
So, this morning I am praying for George Bush who is still in an awesome place of power and responsibility. I am also praying for Barack Obama that he might allow us quiet and peaceful lives as Christians. I will pray for our local and state leaders. None of them can or will do all the things I might want,so I simply pray their actions will give Believers peaceful and quiet lives so we can do what we are here for. With God I am not fearful of the future.no matter who might be leading. This is the FOURTEENTH president of my lifetime. Some of them have been better than others. None have been perfect. None of them have taken away our privilege of sharing the truth with others. God's task for Christians has not changed, even as leaders have and will change. So we pray for our leaders, not that they might solve all our nation's and world's problems, for they won't and can't. We pray for them for a greater purpose. God's purpose.
