Pray for all - including politicians??? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Timothy 2:1-4,

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for all people-- 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
people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

Paul urges Timothy that all people should be prayed for, particularly
for "all those in authority" with the view that "we may live peaceful
and quiet lives..." Paul goes on to say that it pleases God we do so
because he wants all people (not just some) to be saved, "to come to a
knowledge of the truth."

Perhaps it is rather obvious, but God does want all to be saved. Not a
select few from every demographic, but literally, he wants all people
everywhere to be saved. He has, however left that choice up to each
one of us, so Paul urges believers to pray for all people that they
come to a knowledge of the truth. We are told that the Lord draws
people to himself, that they may be saved, "And I, when I am lifted up
from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32. Jesus
also said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws
them, and I will raise them up at the last day." John 6:44. This is
the point of praying for others, the Lord has given us a part in what
he is doing. We ask the Lord to draw them to himself, that they be
saved. The choice is theirs, but we can ask the Lord to be active in
drawing them. We see this in John 16:7-11, where Jesus told his
followers he would send the Holy Spirit for this purpose, "Unless I go
away, the Advocate [the Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I
go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to
be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin,
because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am
going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about
judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."

We are to pray for all, but Paul specifically calls attention to the
need to pray for those in authority that we may live peaceful and
quiet lives. His comment calls to mind something he said in Romans
13:1, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there
is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities
that exist have been established by God." Paul tells us no less than
three times that the authorities are God's servants. "For the one in
authority is God's servant for your good." Verse 4. "They are God's
servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." Also
verse 4. "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are
God's servants, who give their full time to governing." Verse 6.

We are to pray for all people, particularly those in authority -
sometimes not such an easy thing to do.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

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Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com