12/14/2024
Today my devotional reading was on a subject I am very familiar with... Praying for those in authority. From world leaders to leaders of our various countries, communities, churches, businesses, and families, we are instructed to pray for them. Whether they are good or bad, righteous or sinful, we are meant to pray for them all.
The scripture verse we will use to make this point is one I have quoted and heard quoted many times before, and one you may recognize as well... 1 Timothy 2:1-2.
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
Praying for good leaders and righteous leaders is so easily done; we already see them as being people of faith, or are at least of good moral character, and thus they should be easily reached and influenced by God. However, we are instructed to pray for ALL of those in authority… even the most evil and sinful of them. We only need to read the next two verses to understand that God wishes for these men and women to come to Him too. If they will, then he will change their lives, and in so doing change whatever entity they are leading.
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV
Not being a great bible historian, I was unaware of the fact that Nero was the emperor of Rome when Paul wrote these verses. There were few emperors as debase and sinful as Nero, and we all know the story of how he fiddled as Rome burnt... yet Paul asks us to pray for the likes of him.
This makes our praying for members of an opposing party here in the United States seem trivial, and easily accomplished. We get so wrapped up in the secular direction of this world that we often forget that God is not just our personal Lord, and that His son Jesus is not our savior exclusively, but they are also the God and Savior of those in authority over us (whether good or bad). We pray for sinners every day and we should pray for our leaders just as easily... Don't let the gravity of their decisions stop you, but instead let that fact make praying for them all the more important.
I enjoyed reading Pastor E. M. Bound's words on the importance of praying for our leaders...
"It makes good rulers, and makes good rulers better rulers. It restrains the lawless and the despotic. Rulers are to be prayed for. They are not out of reach and control of prayer, because they are not out of reach and control of God." – E. M. Bounds
So, as we begin our morning prayers today let's pray for our leaders, because they need God in their lives, and Jesus as their savior, just as much as we do; if not more. Let's pray that God directs the actions of those leaders who are righteous and tempers the decisions of those who are not. Have our eyes been opened enough that we are now able to do this?
Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for opening our eyes to the fact that you sent Jesus to redeem all men, and that those who are evil, or are living in sin were not excluded; their souls are just as important to you as ours, and you wish for them to turn to you just as we have. Father, we pray this morning for all those in authority over us. We ask that you lead them to make good decisions and that they take into consideration the people who depend on them. Lord, you place men and women in these roles for a purpose and we pray that your will be done in each case. Father God, we pray for righteous leaders who kneel in prayer before you and listen for your voice in advance of every decision they make. Give them knowledge and wisdom as you surround them with righteous counselors of great faith. Father, bless them as they serve you, and protect us from those who do not. Change the hearts, minds, and soul, of our leaders who look to you, and increase them in their faithfulness. Give all those who make you their personal Lord and King prosperous and bless all those who they have dominion over by giving them quiet and peaceful lives in which they can practice their faith in you, and Jesus, without fear or challenge. Great are you Father, and mysterious are your ways. You place leaders over us, and while some are good and others are bad, you use them all to accomplish your will. Help us to pray for them all Lord, just as we pray for our friends and enemies alike. Help us to trust in you despite who we find ruling over us at any given moment. Hear our prayers of thanks and praise for those who are good and righteous leaders, and our prayers that you will save and transform those who are not. We pray that your will be done in them all, but that it be done swiftly in the case of the sinful or evil rulers who are harming those over whom they rule. Hear us as we pray for the souls of each, but especially those prayers that we lift up for those who are lost or merciless. We long for the return of your Son Jesus, and for your eternal rule over us through Him. Come quickly Lord Jesus and claim all those you have redeemed for the Holy Kingdom of our Father. And bring quiet and peaceful lives to all those who believe so that they will find comfort in the eternal presence of God.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah… and all the world said Amen!
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”
Romans 13:1 ESV
“The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”
Proverbs 21:1 ESV
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
Colossians 1:16-17 ESV
Rich Forbes