Here is the urgent call to every Christian in the United States of America: Pray for your new President and Vice President.
I prayed for President Obama when he was President. I prayed for President Trump while he was President. I am praying for President Biden now that he has been inaugurated as President of the United States.
Why? Because God commands me to pray for them! And if you’re a Christian, regardless of your politics, he commands you to do the same.
1 Timothy 2:1,2 reminds us, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” This passage gives us a clear command to intercede for our governmental leaders. This means we pray on their behalf, stand in the gap between God and them and ask God to strengthen, protect and guide them.
God even gives us a compelling reason to pray for them, “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ”Storming the Capitol is not “peaceful.” Ranting hateful words online (about President Trump or President Biden) is not “quiet.” Being a jerk to those from a different political party is not “godly.” And calling outgoing or incoming Presidents names is not “holy.”
And before you lecture me about Trump or Biden’s immoral views or actions just remember that when the Apostle Paul penned 1 Timothy, Nero was on the throne of Rome. Nero was a notoriously evil and utterly depraved dictator who ruthlessly murdered close family members and horrifically tortured Christians. He impaled them, covered them in tar and used them to light his garden yard sex parties.
Paul’s response to his unthinkable wickedness was to pray for Nero!
1 Timothy 2:3,4 gives us even more reasons to pray for our leaders. Paul reminds us, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” God is pleased when we pray for our leaders. There’s something about it that he loves. God wants them all “to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Christians, will you pause to pray for President Biden and VP Kamala Harris today? Will you continue to pray for them and all of our political leaders to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth? It’s a sure way to please God and to live peaceful and quiet lives?
And take comfort in the realization that, what will change this nation on the most fundamental level, is not protests and politics, but prayers and proclamation. We must pray for our leaders and proclaim to everyone around us that Jesus is the way of salvation.
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