Our Responsibility Toward the Government

READ: PSALM 118:9, PROVERBS 29:2; 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-4 Where I live in the United States, the 4th of July tends to be a holiday dominated by fireworks, parades, patriotic renditions of songs like “God Bless America,” and family picnics. It’s a time to commemorate our nation’s independence. However, it can also be a time when the divisiveness of politics is on display, splitting families and friendships between polarizing opinions and harsh interactions with each other. No matter which side of the political aisle you support, if any, 1 Timothy 2 gives us specific instructions about how we should view and interact with government: prayer. Paul instructs us to pray for “all who are in authority” and says we should “ask God to help them” (verses 1-2). But help with what? And why? We are to pray for all of these authority figures to put their trust in Jesus and experience Him personally. We can pray for them to be drawn to God’s Word and rely on Him to guide them, to be convicted by...