Letter To Our Children
by Pastor Joe | September 21, 2022 | Letters To Our Children
September 21, 2022
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 is good, and pleases God our Savior…
Hello friends,
Imagine if a large group of people watched, listened, and studied everything you did every day. The things you said, decided, where you went, and what you did, all of it was recorded and logged. So, it wasn’t just one day in your life, but every day say for the next four to eight years. Add to that, more of the bad things about you and not the good would be broadcasted to the world and go into newspapers, blogs, and social media. In other words, day by day, hour by hour, the bad things you did would be reported to the world.
In some ways, this is what has been happening to the presidents of our United States for a very long time.
History
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Nero) was the emperor of Rome when Paul wrote 1 Timothy. Nero began his reign like a man who wanted to do good, but in the middle and end of his rule, he was a monster. Uncomfortable for me to write about. When Paul wrote that we should pray for kings, Nero was at his worst.
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
Theology
My daughter knows me like a book, but she is careful and thoughtful with that knowledge. She has seen me at my best and unfortunately, she has seen me at my worst. Still, she continues to pray for me. When I send her a text, as I often do, with the request to pray, she has never said, nope, you have been too bad this week.
To that same end, the intercessory ministry of Jesus, praying to the Father on our behalf is not, thank God, tied to our behavior. It is tied to the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.
If our leaders are wrong, they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. That is one of the rules common to the whole house. C.S. Lewis.
To be the president of our United States is a terribly difficult job. On top of that, they still are spouses, parents, friends, and fellow human beings made in God’s image with the common struggles we all share. However, they are important to God, and therefore they are important to us. May God help us all to have mercy on them, as God has on us, and help them by our prayers in Christ's name. Thank you, I know, with God’s help you will pray.
God bless you this week. I am praying for you.
Pastor Joe