First Prayers

Building One Another - Vol. 12, No. 2
Dear Friend, When I hear people speak of various individuals in our government with whom they disagree, hoping they don’t do well, that they don’t succeed, I always think of Paul’s admonition to pray, “for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” I Timothy 2:2* Over the years I have voted for many presidents and many others standing for office. Sometimes they have won their elections, sometimes not. Sometimes I have agreed with their policies. Sometimes I have not. Yet always my “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings” are for them. Why? “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” I Timothy 2:1-2 Paul urges prayers for everyone, but only specifies one group in particular, and surprisingly that group is not our family, our church, or our own selves (although such prayers are clearly a part of praying “for everyone.”) He says, “for kings and for all who are in high positions.” His reasoning is clear! “So that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” Our joy, our security, our well-being as a people depends on them. As we inaugurate the President of the United States, as a new Congress meets, as the Supreme Court rules, may all of our prayers be for their well-being, their wisdom, and their work. May they do well.
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV