Divisiveness, half-truths, and partisanship have been the words of note in our elections this year. I wonder what Jesus thinks of this. He experienced all of those things as he ministered on the earth and felt the stings of the words. I just want to say – Lord, please let this be over, please stop the bickering and rhetoric.
I was recently reminded of words from Scripture that gives insight into what the priority should be in our political action. Paul wrote to Timothy and said, ‘ I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – 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 knowledge of the truth.’ — I Timothy 2:1-3 NIV.
So our political action is to first include prayer for our kings, Presidents and leaders – we are to make requests for them, intercede for them and offer prayers of thanksgiving. Then we are to pray that their decisions would be such that we would be able to live quiet and peaceful lives.
Somehow offering those prayers is good and pleasing to God. Somehow, it appears that, when we pray those things it is a testimony to others who don’t yet know Christ or those growing in Christ – it causes them to see and hear truth and gain knowledge in the truth.
My Mom was an example of this. She always had a photo of the President of the United States hanging in her home. She prayed for them, no matter what political persuasion they were. I never asked her, but my hunch is that she prayed for their families, their decisions, gave thanks for them and asked that the decisions they would make would allow her family to live peaceful and quiet lives.
When our political action first becomes prayer action, God will be glorified and others will gain knowledge of the truth.
Faithpondering 