The Bible tells us that we are to pray for our leaders

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

The political season is going hard and heavy. Everybody has somebody they like that is running for office, and everybody has somebody they do not like. It is easy to grow offensive in our likes and dislikes.

But the Bible tells us that we are to pray for our leaders. The Bible never tells us we are to pray against them. Now you may want change or you may want things to stay the way they are. But no matter how you feel about an elected representative, as an elected representative they are your physical leaders. And you pray for them.

We live in a country that can change its leadership and its corporate vision by voting new people in and old people out. We have that power.

However we do not have the power to speak ill of our leaders. They are from God and God, through his word and the words of the apostle Paul, tells us that we are to pray for them

It is easy to say, well I like this or I do not like that. But remember, this was written in a time when one of the most ruthless emperors Rome ever had was in power. Nero was in charge and he was mean. Yet the Bible never says, pray for him to go. Instead it says Ask God to help him.

This was from an apostle who was eventually killed by a Roman emperor if church tradition is right. But he still says pray for him, intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

That is a long ways from the vitriol and anger poured out on our president and other elected officials. Whatever you may think of them, however you may feel, whether or not you agree with them does not matter. You are to respect them. if you do not, you are sinning and disobeying God.

Romans 13:1-4 says:  

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good.

They are from God and they are sent for your good.

You don’t like them? Vote them out. But while they are in office you respect them and pray for them. Talking ugly about them is a sin.

Hard to do, but absolute Bible truth.

We are gone to Kansas again this weekend. We will see you soon. God bless you.