What a great turnout we had this week as Americans exercised their God-given freedom to "vote" for our next leader.
The presidential elections are over! Now, regardless of whether your candidate won or loss, it's our duty as Christians to pray for President-Elect Barack Obama.
Listen to this verse of Scripture as the Apostle Paul urges us to pray for our leaders:
1 Timothy 2:1-3 (HCSB) First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior.
Will you make a commitment with me to daily pray for President George W. Bush, and our new President-Elect Barack Obama? Once again, it's our duty!
I thought the Life Application Bible Commentary summed it up pretty well:
Paul's command to pray for kings was remarkable considering that Nero, a notoriously cruel ruler, was the current emperor (a.d. 54-68). When Paul wrote this letter, persecution was a growing threat to believers. Later, when Nero needed a scapegoat for the great fire that destroyed much of Rome in a.d. 64, he blamed the Roman Christians so as to take the focus off himself. That triggered severe persecution throughout the Roman Empire. Not only were Christians denied certain privileges in society; some were even publicly butchered, burned, or fed to lions. But believers were taught to support the government, not rebel against it (Romans 13:1-6; 1 Peter 2:13-25).
LIFE APPLICATION: If we live in a country with a good government, our lives move along peacefully and quietly, making it difficult to remember to pray for those in authority. We take good government for granted. But we should pray for those at the top-whether we agree with them or not, whether we voted for them or not. In this way, we Christians can make a difference in the course of our nation. We should also pray for world leaders so that other cultures will be open to the gospel. Pray for your leaders, not just in times of national crisis, but every day-thousands of decisions are made daily that affect everyone. And beyond praying for those decisions that will affect you, also pray for the conversion of your leaders.
Paul did not explain what to pray, but his list in verse 1 was broad enough to include whatever prayer might be appropriate to any situation. He also gave the purpose behind his command to pray.
Prayer provides the Christian's ultimate armor for defense and weapon for offense. With the Roman government deteriorating under Nero and persecution of Christians increasing, Paul told Christians to pray. God sets up and removes all rulers; he is ultimately in control (see Psalm 2). Praying for the salvation of the rulers in Rome (and for the return of the noninterfering policy against Christians) would help restore the quiet and peaceable life the Christians had enjoyed prior to the persecution (see 1 Peter 2:12; 3:9).
Even in nations where Christians do not face persecution, they still need to be constantly praying for their leaders. Every day decisions are made in the halls of government that shape the policies, the future, even the morality of the nation.
Constant prayer can be a mighty weapon against Satan's domination, helping the nation to remain "quiet and peaceable" so believers can continue with their work of spreading the gospel in all godliness and dignity. Godliness means true reverence and religious devotion that leads to exemplary conduct. Dignity means serious purpose, moral earnestness. These descriptive words do not imply private spiritual living. Rather, they convey a public faith consistent with God's purpose to achieve the salvation of persons and bring them "to a knowledge of the truth" (2:4).
LIFE APPLICATION: For Timothy, the area of greatest danger to the maintenance of peace and quiet was within the church itself. The church's prayers would balance the tensions that came as the church confronted error.
In our efforts to maintain a prayer life to include everyone, we must not overlook the "hot spots" around us.
Do you pray for leaders of both parties in government?
Do you pray for the leaders of the Gay Rights movement or other proponents of issues you oppose?
Do you pray for local government and educational leaders?
The threats of evil may be close or distant, but they ought to receive our concentrated efforts of prayer.
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