Tuesday, November 22, 2010
1 Timothy 2:1-4 I urge ... that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made ... for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES
Another important part of the daily bread our Father bestows on us in love is the secular government, which He uses to preserve law and order in our streets. It's a blessing we ought not take for granted. As Martin Luther points up in the Large Catechism: "The civil authorities are chiefly the ones through whom God preserves our daily bread and all the comforts of life. Although we have received from God an abundance of all good gifts, yet we cannot retain any of them or enjoy them in happy security unless God grants us a stable government. Where there is strife wrangling, and war, there our daily bread is already taken from us, or at least threatened."
As you take time off to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with loved ones, speak a prayer of thanks to the Lord for His blessing of secular authorities on the local, state, and national levels. Remember to lift up your government leaders in your prayers through the year, asking Him to prosper them in their work, so that the citizens may live in peace and all hindrances to the spread of the Gospel removed and curtailed.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You rule over all things in heaven and on earth by Your mighty power. You have established earthly governments to carry out justice on earth. I confess I have not always been grateful for Your blessing of secular authorities. I have failed to honor them properly because I focused on their failings instead of the honor You have given them. Thank You for teaching me to submit to the governing authorities in everything that is right. Father, grant wisdom to these men and women who serve in the various sectors of government. Make them mindful of what is right and of their accountability to You. Sanctify their reason with faith so that we may enjoy peace and prosperity under their rule and the kingdom Your Son established in many hearts through the preaching of the Good News of Jesus. Amen.
