Friday, 19 September 2025
1 Timothy 2: 1 – 7
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all – this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Reflection
These days no ruler seems to be above criticism. People like to complain. Should we pay more attention to what Paul told Timothy and pray for our leaders and be thankful for them?
We might feel that some leaders are not worthy of our respect but the rulers in the first century were hardly shining examples of righteousness. When Paul wrote this letter Nero was the Roman Emperor who had imprisoned Paul and who would agree to his execution. Paul clearly tells us to pray for them and that, like everyone else, God wants them to know the truth that salvation comes through Jesus.
Life today is in many ways far more complex than it was when Paul wrote this letter. We live with the threat of a nuclear war as we seemed to learn nothing from the history of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago. The industrial revolution led to so much damage to the world that we are living with climate chaos. This does not mean that we should not be praying for all our leaders and all in authority across the world. No matter how bad we might consider a leader to be, that person is not beyond the reach of God and everyone can come to know God because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
We can say with Paul “For this I was appointed…I am telling the truth, I am not lying, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” We can tell the truth about our true faith in Jesus to as many people as possible and if we feel it is right to contact our MP, local councillor, or another leader, we should do so with politeness and in a way that shows that we are motivated by God given love.
Prayer
Loving God we thank You for all those in authority.
We pray for those who know You
that they will be true to your teaching
in everything that they do and say.
We pray for those leaders
who reject the truth about Jesus.
We pray that they might still be guided by You.
We pray that we,
and the whole of Your world
might one day life in peace and unity. Amen