Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Looking For A Quiet Life

Paul had sound advice for Timothy and the brethren at Ephesus that people of God should heed in the year of this great confusion. There have always been challenges to the life of those who seek to follow the will of God and none are exempt from the impact of world events. The plan of character for the Christian is something that goes beyond the boundaries of time. Paul urged the brethren to pray for everyone because everyone needs prayer. All men need the providential grace of God to intercede on their behalf and to learn to depend on Him. Jesus died for all men so that all men could see the glory of the Father and come to salvation. Christians are to pray for everyone so they can find the promises of God.

Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks should always be on the lips of the children of God. The world is in darkness with no hope and no promise of a brighter tomorrow apart from Jesus Christ. Prayers should be given by saints to seek God’s blessings on all men to see the power of God to know the love of God in Christ. The life of the person of character is defined by his relationship with the Divine and his interest in the salvation of all men. This is the forefront of prayer. Paul especially urges the brethren to pray for kings and those in authority. It must be noted and taken very seriously that God is not interested in political affiliations. The Holy Spirit directs that a Christian must pray for the government in power at the time and when Paul wrote the letter to Timothy it was the corrupt, immoral and hedonistic Roman Empire. For the Christian today it means the President of the United States and all those in authority whether on the Federal level, State or local governments. This does not regard itself to party lines. For the children of God who elect to follow a certain party line, they are obligated to pray for those in authority whether that person is in their party or not. To refuse to pray for the President and those in authority because of political posturing is sinful and rebelling against the will of God.

The purpose of prayer is for the nation of God to be examples of living a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. Using social media to despair, malign and spew hatred for political posturing does not lead to quiet living and brings peace in the world. It shows a character of ungodliness and irreverence for the authorities that are ordained by God. Prayer should be the first thing that comes from the lips of the Christian and then the action of prayer through the daily lives of those who have subjected themselves to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In times of national and global concern, the people of God should be the standard that all other men seek to emulate because of their spirit of gentleness and purity. Jesus told the eleven shortly before He sacrificed Himself for all men that the world would know the power of the gospel in the lives of those who became His disciples. Love for one another and love for others will the hallmark of the church to show the world that God loves them and seeks their salvation. The Lord desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. This is done when His people pray for all men, for kings and all who are in authority. They show Christ living in their lives as gentle people, seeking peace and showing God’s grace and love. A quiet life comes from imitating Jesus Christ.