Proper 20

Preparation

    Please begin by reading I Timothy 2:1-7 in your Bible. If you do not have one at hand, we have provided that text for you at the end of this reflection.

Reflection--A Call to Prayer

    How different our world is from the world that God intended; a world where everyone “may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” How far down humanity has fallen into an “us” versus “them” world where each person, group, or nation fervently believes that God is only “our” God and that God is only on “our” side. How twisted human spirits have become when many believe that we must hate those who are not exactly like us or that God desires the slaughter of others with whom we may disagree on matters of politics or faith. How far from the truth of one God who “so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life,” the Son “who gave himself a ransom for all.” How desperately prayer is needed when we see new depths of evil play out in our newspapers day after day!

    It is easy to quickly read today’s passage from Paul’s letter to Timothy and to, at most, give a silent nod to Paul’s injunction to pray for “for kings and all who are in high positions.” That is a mistake, especially in our time. This is a deadly serious matter!

    Every day rulers and leaders in all parts of the world are making choices that determine whether God’s people will be able “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity” or a life filled with turmoil, fear, and suffering. Many of God’s people accept that with an air of helpless resignation. That kind of attitude ignores a powerful tool we have to influence who those leaders are and the choices they make. I am not talking about the political process, although people of faith should be engaging in that process, I am talking about prayer.

    Yes, prayer does matter! Prayer does change things! Your prayer! We have it on good authority that “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22) and that “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). The great eighteenth century preacher Jonathan Edward’s words get right to the heart of the matter. “There is no way that Christians, in a private capacity, can do so much to promote the work of God and advance the kingdom of Christ as by prayer.”

    I fervently believe that evil often prevails because God’s people have just given up and are not using one of the world’s most powerful resources, prayer! We need to pray. We need to pray that God will see to it that only leaders and rulers dedicated to creating a just, quiet and peaceable world come to power. We need to pray that God grant all leaders and rulers everywhere the will and the wisdom to make the best possible choices.

    Yes, we need to pray. Not tomorrow, but now! Nothing less than the fate of humanity hangs in the balance!

revclay

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I Timothy 2:1-7

   First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings 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 Savior, 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. [NRSV]