Morning all. As we literally enter a new era (called the Carolean era apparently – thought it was Charles not Carol!) we had a challenge from our service on Sunday by the apostle Paul to pray for rulers to set the atmosphere so that we can live godly lives.
We have an opportunity with a new government and new king to start again with new intentions – to not just sit back and enjoy the comforts of a democracy or to pray fervently to overthrow governments that we perceive to be evil. What about praying that worship of God and knowledge of God would be increased no matter who the ruling parties are and that through their leadership there would somehow be an atmosphere in which these two things can happen?
“As so often in the New Testament, the call to prayer is also the call to think: to think clearly about God and the world, and God’s project for the whole human race. Don’t rest content with the simplistic agendas of the world that suggest you should either idolize your present political system or be working to overthrow it. Try praying for your rulers instead and watch not only what God will do in your society but also how your attitudes will grow, change and mature.” (NT Wright)
This was part two of our series on the Characteristics of a Christian in which we are using the letters of Paul to Timothy to look at some of the themes that Paul uses to describe a healthy church. During the months of September and October we will be looking at the following: understanding grace, prayer, contentment, thanksgiving, endurance, truth and strength.
Mark
