1 Timothy 2:1-2–Prayers Are to Be Made For The Leaders

1 Timothy 2:1-2–"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made to all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."

It seems appropriate on the week of the midterm elections for this verse to come up as a verse of the day.  We often forget that this is actually a major theme of Scripture, that we would maintain a certain deference and respect for our leaders.  Part and parcel to this perspective is that we would pray, recognizing that, ultimately, it is God who has placed the leaders in their places for His purposes (Romans 13:1).

Because this, and a whole host of other Scripture verses that support this same position, our prayer should be that we would be humble and reverent in prayer for our leaders and those people that God has placed in leadership positions.

He Purchased a People

God does not choose a person, but a people.  He works with the individuals within that people.  But Scripture confirms that God does not choose individuals, rather, He chooses a people to be His own.  Certainly, God does chose specific individuals in history as representatives for His redeemed peoples: Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus.  But God chooses people not persons.

This is to say that election and predestination is not a personal ordeal, it is a community one.  It is a covenant matter.  God chooses to initiate a covenant relationship with a certain people.  This is the very essence of how God relates to man.

It's like a giant box of crayons owned by God.  Each crayon has a unique color and hue but apart from the rest of the colors it is useless, only capable of coloring monochromatically.  Understanding that we are a 'people' not autonomous individuals of faith will go a far way to reconciling this broken world and repairing broken churches.