Who's In Charge Here? A Series on Authority
Thursday, February 12, 2004
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My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for creating the universe with specific laws and order, so that we can experience stability in the physical realm. Thank you, too, for creating specific laws and order in the realm of human relationships as well. While I may not appreciate all of the lands of our land, and while I know that some of them go against Your will, I pray that You will give me the boldness of Your Holy Spirit to obey the laws that are intended to do us good, and reflect Your will for living, and to work for the change or elimination of laws that contradict Your will. I pray again today for wisdom and discernment for the leaders and lawmakers around the United States and around the world, that You will give them the ability to make decisions that will reflect Your plan and purpose for life, and which will bring peace, quietness, godliness and dignity to each and every person. This I pray in the strong name of Jesus, who died, rose and promises to return to establish His eternal reign among us! Amen.
God's Word Today
1 Timothy 2:1-4
1I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. 2Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. 3This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4for he wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
Reflecting on God's Word
What would it look like, in practical terms if everyone was saved and understood the truth?
Is your life a reflection of that salvation and truth right now?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
With what type of attitude or approach are we to come to prayer according to today’s Scripture? (:1-2)
With what kind of response does God come to our prayers according to today’s Scripture? (2:3-4)
What does today’s Scripture say about who may be saved? (2:4)
Understanding God's Purpose for Us
How are God’s mercy and our giving thanks related?
What is the end of prayer according to Paul’s words in today’s Scripture?
Applying God's Word to Our Purpose
What is one thing you will do today as a result of reading today’s Scripture?
Thoughts...Pleading for God's Mercy
How many of us make a regular habit of “pleading for God’s mercy” on all people, and particularly on governing leaders as we pray? How interesting that the Apostle Paul calls us to plead for God’s mercy AND give thanks. Why would he connect the two? An obvious reason is that we are all dependent on God’s mercy for life—and for eternal life. When we know we’ve received it, the only reasonable response is obedient gratitude. Paul’s call for us to PLEAD for God’s mercy for others, and particularly for kings and all others in authority assures that we develop a heart after God’s own heart! It is God alone who can show mercy to ALL people. Therefore, if we’re going to pray—and plead—for God’s mercy to ALL people then God will have to continuously make our hearts more like His! How important it is for us to develop that heart after God’s own heart. King David did, and because of that He was the greatest ruler in Israel’s history. If we want to be everything God intends for us to be, it starts with recognizing God’s mercy in our lives, and pleading for it in others!