Tuesday, September 20, 2016
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
A PRAYER PRIMER (2)
For whom should we pray?
In his second letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Paul to urge them to "pray without ceasing." This doesn't mean that our lives are to be nothing but prayer, but that we are to frequently bring our requests to God through the one mediator, Jesus the Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).
For whom should we pray? It's not particularly difficult to pray for those we know when they are sick or facing disease or death. It's fairly easy to pray on behalf of those near and dear to us.
But the Spirit of God tells us that we are to offer up different kinds of prayers along with thanksgiving on behalf of all men. We are called upon to pray-- not only for those near and dear to us-- but for everyone, including our enemies (Matthew 5:44) and even people we really don't know personally.
In fact, we are urged specifically to pray for our rulers and government-- whether you voted for them and approve of their policies or not. We should indeed ask that the LORD God bless them and lead them by His Spirit to rule in a godly fashion, taking into account and obeying His holy Word. We pray these things for our own benefit, so that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives and go about His business.
Let's remember that Christ died for all men and desires that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (about salvation through faith in Christ). Let's pray for them, but let's also look for opportunity to speak clearly of what Christ has done for us all.
Pray-- and proclaim!
