Paul urges us here. What an intense message! It’s not simply a suggestion that we pray. We are even told what to pray for. For other people. You know it’s a gift you can given another human being they may never know you gave. God is the one who matters anyway, and he will be pleased.
Paul’s urgent plea tells us how to pray as well. “Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” Everyone we encounter needs a Savior. Everyone has a secret hurt or struggle, but not everyone has taken that to God. Our need for prayer has no bounds. That’s why intercession is so powerful. We can carry those burdens for others right to the throne of God!
Did you notice Paul also calls out the figures in authority? That speaks volumes for our world today, doesn’t it? There are a lot of people, evil and otherwise, who are in positions of authority with people’s lives in their hands. It makes sense that they would be targets of the evil one’s schemes. Their need for prayer is immense. When is the last time you prayed for the leadership in your town, state, country, or even other countries’ leaders in power?
What would it look like if all the world leaders knew and followed Jesus? I’m not sure I can even picture such peace! There’s always plenty of room for prayer. I look forward to the day when “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)
For now, we pray. We pray for all people. Paul also answers the question “why” we should pray. Why? Because God wants “everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.” Asking us to pray for others may be easier than praying for ourselves if we’re afraid of seeming too selfish with our own prayer requests.
The tricky part is praying for “all” people! That means those who persecute us or don’t believe the same way. We are called to muster up that inner strength to ask God to bless our enemies, too. God knew they would need our prayers! Imagine who, after hearing Paul’s counsel, would be praying for you? Who will you be praying for today?
Having an attitude of prayer is what Paul is teaching Timothy and us. Timothy has the assignment to make some changes in the growing church to get them on the right track. We see the importance of covering this task with prayer. Being prayerful and seeking God’s guidance always produces results. I always love starting meetings with other believers in prayer. That doesn’t happen in secular meetings. How much smoother those meetings go when we welcome God to the table.
Paul will go on to reveal to Timothy the critical role our prayers play in worship. What better way to worship God than to spend intimate moments in conversation with him.
Let’s pray. Father, we lift up the leaders of the world and ask that you guide them. Even though we don’t always agree with the actions of those in charge, you have allowed them to be in power and have asked me to pray for them. It is in you where my hope is found. I look forward to what you have in store for me. Shine through me so that my life reflects the worship I have for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
