The Second Greatest Commandment
Loving the Unlovely – Part V
Scripture Reading: Luke 15:1-7 (NLT)
Key Verses: Luke 15:1-2 (NLT) Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that He was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!
As we have been studying in this last week of the month, praying for unbelievers is one of the most loving things we can do for them.
Yesterday we looked at Matthew 18:19 that tells us to pray for the leaders of our world.
When I pray the Lord’s Prayer, as a guide to my prayer time, I am reminded to pray for them when I come to “May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-13). It makes sense to me that God works through the authorities of this world when we pray for His will to be done on earth.
The Bible tells us that God instituted the authorities of this world and that they serve His purposes, even when they do not surrender to Him or even believe in Him (Romans 13:1 and Romans 13:4). God works as easily through evil men in authority as He does God fearing leaders. A prime example of this is found in Exodus 7:1 and Exodus 7:3:
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. … But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply My miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt”.
Take note of the power of God working in a powerful yet evil leader. God made Pharaoh see Moses like a god and put a stubborn mindset in him so God could show multiple signs and wonders.
Never forget that God is in control of the events and the directions a nation may take, it is never just bad leadership. God is in control and directs the affairs, either to bless a nation or to punish a nation. This is why we must never stop praying for the leaders of the nations of our world.
God hears our prayers and because of our prayers He may change things for the better. God has a plan and purpose for our world and of course our prayers are not going to change His divine plan. However, our prayers can change some of the details of this plan bringing peace and comfort to the people. This is why the Bible says:
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
Do you pray for our President and the leaders of the nations of our world? If not, why not? I fear that many do not because they no longer believe in God’s power to change things through the leaders of the nations.
Let the knowledge that God can and does change things through your prayers encourage you. Therefore, pray!
Father, I know that You are still able to cause people to think differently and change minds. Please remind me to pray for that change in the leaders of our nation. In Jesus’s Name, amen.