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| Photo by Ben Dixon on Unsplash |
We used the simple SOAP acronym as a devotional guide... which stands for:
- Scripture—what verse or short section caught my attention today?
- Observation—what can I briefly notice that the passage specifically says?
- Application—what will I do differently as a result of having read this today?
- Prayer—what will I ask the Triune God to do for, in, and through me today?
1 Timothy 2:1-4
S = “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. This is good,
and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be
saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
O = These four verses say that we are to offer all kinds of
prayer for all kinds of people no matter how high or low their position. To
make this more challenging, it would seem likely that the king/emperor at that
time for which Paul exhorts prayer would have been the infamous Nero. How do
you pray for a leader who is harmful to your people? The same way you pray for
anyone else…maybe just more so.
At least a couple of clear reasons for this public
prayer as the gathered church that readily appear. First, it explicitly effects
our ability to live peaceful and quiet lives (implicitly = living unhindered
for Christ and as a ready example for others) as the community of God. Second, our
prayer pleases God and effects the lives of those for whom we pray—God desires “all
people” to experience salvation and thoroughly know the truth. It behooves us
to pray in agreement with the revealed will of God!
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| Photo by Jason Betz of Unsplash |
A = Do I spend more time complaining about others or praying for
them? Can I give thanks for them, even the difficult ones? That can be
stretching to my faith especially in the area of political leadership. My
prayer life will be evidenced in how I live: peaceful or stressed out, quiet or
loud, godly or selfish, dignified or disturbing? This week I will pray before
posting, I will intercede for others rather than insisting on my own way, and I will talk with Jesus (conversational aspect of prayer) and let him correct my heart before trying to set others straight.
P = O Lord, let me pray before I choose to complain, critique,
criticize, or condemn. Give me a thankful heart today. so that I can bless
others, building them up in the faith, and be fully present with them in their
walk. Because you first loved me, I want to be pleasing in your sight by sharing in your heart for the lost.
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