In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul said, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” Paul told Timothy that the church needed to be praying for people. Specifically the civil leaders of the place they lived - “kings and all in authority.” I can only imagine how challenging that must have been for people who watched the Romans mistreatment of Christians play out right in front of them. Yet Paul still said, “Pray for them.” Perhaps the fruit of their prayers wasn’t seen until years later when Christianity became the national religion of Rome.
It is no secret that we have been living in a challenging time with this countries leadership. We have seen leaders who have pushed for homosexuality to be legal. We have seen leaders who have pushed the transgender issues. We have seen leaders who have belittled those of the Chrisitian faith. Yet Paul said, “Pray for them.”
This past week on the news feed I saw I man named Mike Johnson, the speaker for the House of Representatives, stand up in front of this nation and appeal to the Bible as the sole authority for all things, I saw him claim that God has appointed all government authorities and that they have an obligation to Him, and I saw him get on his knees and pray for this nation. I believe many faithful Christians have been praying for this country and its leadership, and perhaps this man was answer to those prayers.
Don’t grow weary in praying for the place you find yourself living. Paul followed up his teaching in that passage by saying, “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” God wants all who live in this world to know truth and be saved by the blood of Christ. Perhaps a godly influence in our government can spark some spirituality back into this nation and persuade many to look towards God in the face of this cruel world we live in. I challenge you and your congregation to stand up and thank God for godly leaders like Mike Johnson, and pray for more like Him to rise up and lead this country.
-Kolton Ballance