What do Christians do when we encounter leaders in positions of authority who seem to act contrary to the principles of our faith?
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy under the rule of the Roman Empire. Caesar claimed to be a god, and called himself the “lord and savior.” Roman power had been used to persecute Christians and Paul himself had been imprisoned and beaten for proclaiming the gospel.
Yet in the midst of this opposition, Paul’s first instruction to Timothy as leader of a church is to tell his congregation to pray for the rulers and authorities. By doing this, Paul says, the people will be able to live in peaceful, quiet lives, rather than in lands torn apart by war and civil unrest. Within this context, the gospel could thrive and spread so that all could come to know personally the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ.
How faithful are you in this matter? Take time today to pray for rulers and authorities-in our nation, our state, our county and our city. As Paul instructed Timothy, “this is good and pleases God.”
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