Election day is here. Perhaps not in your country or mine, but what happens in the United States has a significant impact on the rest of this world.
Whatever your political preferences, we can be sure God would want us to do one thing. Pray for our leaders.
“Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.”
(1 Timothy 2:2–3 MESSAGE)
Bear in mind that when Paul instructed Christians to pray for their leaders Nero was in power. Not exactly the kind of chap who would invite a follower of Jesus over for a cup of tea.
This had happened before. Jeremiah told the Israelites to pray for the Babylonians:
“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’”
(Jeremiah 29:7 NAS95)
The Babylonians? The marauding, temple-destroying pagans detailed in 2 Kings 25? Yes, pray for them. And not praying for their downfall, but their ‘welfare’ .
Take a moment to pray about the election in the USA today. And pray for your local leaders. They are faced with decisions way beyond our pay-grade….but not our prayer-grade.
Whatever happens, the result will not herald the end of the world, nor the second coming of Jesus. Instead allow it to prompt you to pray such that “..we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:2 NRSV)
God bless, Malcolm
[Inspired by today’s Lectio 365 devotional]
