It is not true that being a candidate for public office is easy. It takes a very different person to be a good candidate as opposed to being a good officeholder. That may be one of the reasons most voters ignore the down-ballot candidates and focus on the House, Senate and Presidency. But in fact, the entire ticket needs our full attention because those people running with the top candidates are as much a part of the team as the leaders.
Pray for leaders is required, expected
This month we had a primary in our state, as you probably will have in yours. The top leaders were an easy call, but to my surprise people I did not know and barely heard of were nominated from my party. Several ones I voted for were way-y-y down the line.
- 1 Timothy 2 King James Version (KJV)
- 2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
- 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
- 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
- 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Notice Timothy who is speaking to his local congregation, says there is a job to be done first. More often than not it is done last in my church or not at all.
We are to give thanks for all men and these leaders. You know how hard that has been just recently and certainly not done in public. Our leaders of both parties have been cursed publicly, not to mention the cartoons and the flurry of hate mail. Our candidates have had slanderous and libelous publicity about them, deliberate lies paid for by campaign funds.
Good leaders bring Peace
We have had a decade or more of no peace, yet we are to pray precisely for these leaders to bring the peace that allows us to worship in our own way and to bring others into God’s kingdom. The end for us personally is holiness, not that we hear much about that these days, and honest dealings. One day reading the newspapers and watching TV can assure you that honesty is no longer available.
Truth is missing in politics
A peaceful political climate allows men to be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth. Clearly one thing that God wants us to realize is that if our government is not peaceful neither will there be truth. If we look at foreign nations where there is civil war, want, despair, poverty and conflict, there are poor or even evil leaders, and no peace.
Sample prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you that you have promised me that you would govern our lives, that your goals are peace and honest dealings. I confess I have not been faithful to pray for my leaders and often cursed them, only to see them replaced by others I did not like as well. Please bless the leaders of the country and teach them through the Holy Spirit to listen to you and take seriously their jobs. You said you died for all men. Please enter the arena of government and direct their lives so we may, the world over, have peace.
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