Praying For Those In Authority

# 54 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 2:1,2, “ Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (1 Tim 2:2,) “Father, tell the government officials that You have appointed, to ”LEAVE US ALONE!” Now those may sound like fighting words to some, and indeed they were in 1776, as the United States broke free from the tyrannical government of Britain. And we know that it was the desire to escape from governmental tyranny that led the Pilgrims to come to America in the first place! Now, I am not advocating for armed revolt in any way, shape, or form, but I am advocating for prayer as Paul spoke of here in 1 Timothy, as the government seems to be getting more and more tyrannical toward the church. Prayer in this matter is the “first of all” responsibility of the church, and for starters, let us always remember who puts rulers in office! Ro 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” So when governmental authorities start acting up against the church, it only makes sense to come to the Almighty God who put them there! Having acknowledged that fact in our prayer, we now come to the Father with our specific requests for our government. We ask that we may lead (pass our time) as a church in quietness and in peace. The idea of quietness is that of not being disturbed. “Give us a country Lord, where we need not fear soldiers crashing our worship services and hauling us away!” And the word peace here means “keeping ones seat.” which in my mind is a great word picture. Being asked to leave one's seat is always disturbing. Don't believe me? Just try sitting in someone elses seat on the 50 yard line at a Packer game! You see, the church has a seat, it has a place in society. It is the salt and light of the earth, and in our prayers with gathered believers, we ask that God keep the government on track with their God-given responsibilities, (see Rom 13: 1-6) so that we may keep on track with our God-given responsibilities of being salt and light in this world. ( (Mt 5:13-16)