Praying for People “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for Gods mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Saviour, for he wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 I have often said we are to pray FOR people not ABOUT people. I tell people (with a smile) if I have to pray about them they are in trouble. Some Christians have taught that we are to pray AGAINST people. This should be a very rare occasion. We are instructed to both pray FOR people and to give thanks for them. When you pray for someone it carries with it the idea that you have their best interest in mind. When you pray about someone you have your own interests in mind. When you pray against someone there had better be a good reason. God gives us two reasons to pray for everyone and give thanks for them: 1. So we can live a quiet and peaceful life and 2. So they can be saved. It makes no difference how terrible a person is, if they get saved, God is honoured and they change. This is God’s reason for telling us to pray for all men. Keep in mind that when Paul instructed this, the king (president) was a pagan emperor who claimed to be deity and persecuted Christians. How is it possible that Paul could tell us to pray FOR and give thanks for this man? The fact is, we often curse people with our words and our “prayers”. God isn’t willing that any should perish. He does still use the prayers of His people to change the lives of others. Paul himself was surely such a man as Christians interceded to God for him to be changed, not cursed. Father help me to see every person, even those that are so opposite what I believe, as a person who was created in your image and has worth apart from their performance. Help me to see those people saved and giving you the glory due your name. You have given me a ministry of reconciliation, not condemnation. Help me to believe it and live it so as to make a real difference in those that desperately need Jesus. AMEN!
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 06:32:34 +0000
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