Who is in charge?

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

As I write this post today, it’s the morning after an election. What year it is doesn’t matter as the concept I write about is universal and timeless. After every election we are either happy, sad, or both. What Paul is writing about doesn’t depend on whether “our” person won or lost, but our attitude toward whomever is ruling or about to. Why? Read on and see God’s bigger plan for us when we honor His choice for who he puts in place as a leader.

Break this verse apart – Paul start by writing about who we should pray for, and then why. We are to pray for “kings and all who are in high positions” which in our day refers to our leaders. What? I’m supposed to pray for the people that I don’t agree with how they are running things?

Yes.

Paul continues: “… that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.“

Romans 13:1 tells us, “There is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

This statement by Paul is especially startling when we understand that he wrote this somewhere around A.D. 56-57. The emperor at the time was Nero, who was an incredibly wicked ruler who led one of the most severe times of persecution of Christians.

We must understand that God is in control of all, even what we don’t agree with – we see things from this side of eternity, He sees them outside of time. 

“Wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them” (Daniel 2:20-21)

We can’t see the purpose in allowing some leaders in our country or around the world to stay in power, but God has the entire planet under His control, and His plan for humanity is higher than we can ever understand.