“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.”- 1 Timothy 2:1-2
EXPOSITION
In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, the apostle Paul focuses on matters relating to the Church, to God’s people, more broadly. The first matter Paul brings up: prayer. Prayer is extremely important for this to be the area where Paul immediately draws our focus. Paul encourages the Church to pray for kings and others in high authority so that they, along with the Church and the others in the land, might lead peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified lives.
APPLICATION
Praying for our national leaders has become a lost priority for the Church today. We sometimes either selectively choose to only pray for those national leaders in government who represent our favorite political party and despise the other, or we just don’t pray at all because we rather debate and embrace divisiveness. However, this is the opposite of what Paul instructs us to do. Notice that the Apostle Paul didn’t say in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, “Speak hateful of national leaders!” or “Create hashtags that dehumanize the President!” This is no coincidence.
We must understand that praying for our national leaders should far outweigh how much we talk about, gossip, or hate them.
This doesn’t mean we must agree with everything National leaders say or do. This certainly doesn’t mean we shouldn’t call them out when dehumanizing people in the U.S. created in God’s Image. I have done this numerous times concerning the dehumanization of immigrants, migrants, and refugees–and will continue to do so because this is what doing justice means on behalf of the vulnerable. However, we can do these things and also pray for our National Leaders. These are not mutually exclusive.
Therefore, this Advent season, we must choose to pray for the President, Congress, and Senators because prayer is an instrument God graciously will use to lead the Church and all national leaders in the United States to live peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified lives. And we all know this is a revival the United States desperately needs through Jesus Christ. Choose to pray for national leaders before anything else this Advent season. After all, when Jesus was born in a manger, He came to love and save not just the vulnerable of society, but also Presidents, Congress, and Senators. May our prayers reflect this truth.
PRAYER
Merciful God, we ask that You compel us as a Church—Your chosen people, to pray for our national leaders, their leadership, and hearts to be drawn to Yourself. We ask that You lead them to glorify You above themselves and please You above anyone else. Help them to steward their positions in ways that help the United States to grow. Holy Spirit, draw those who might not know You to repentance and faith in Jesus. We need peace not division in our country. Please bless us with this. Amen.
By Rondell Treviño, Founder/Director, TiC
