Pray for Your Leaders

Well there was a lot of cheering and a lot of worry going on this week across the country. Some people are just ecstatic that the first black president got elected. Others are worried that he is a democrat. I didn't vote for Obama because he is pro-abortion. I voted for the most pro-life candidate I could. I feel like Obama will do lots to undermine the rights of the unborn, just like Clinton did. Should we hate him though? No way!

God told us to submit to those in authority over us. Romans 13:1-7 says, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor."

Even if John McCain got elected he would still be a fallible man capable of immense amounts of evil. The same holds true for all leaders, even Barak Obama. He needs our prayers more than anything, especially since he is for some pretty immoral things. Just like with Saul, the people got what they wanted, and now we will all live under his rule. It is comforting to read the passage above though, and know that God is over Barak Obama. I'm not saying that God approves of everything that he does or says or wants to do. But Obama is subject to the kind of disciple that God gives to all the leaders of the world.

In 2 Samuel 24, David is given three choices of punishment for wanting to take a census of the people. He chooses God's judgment, but He says, "Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” The ultimate judge will always be more compassionate and merciful than any man. God then relented in His anger, when man would not have stopped.

Pray for not only the president, but all the leaders in your life, from spouse to boss to pastor, and on up the leadership chain. They are all prone to fall, and fall they often do. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. There is an old hymn that fits us all, but I wish our leaders would sing it as a prayer in public everyday: "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it - seal it for Thy courts above." Lots of republicans were glad when Bush got elected, but he disappointed many of those who elected him, especially with the torture issue and people losing civil rights. It will be the same thing for Obama and his supporters once he starts his job. He is not "The One" or "Messiah." He is a man who now has a tremendous responsibility and a huge opportunity to mess up. Even if you didn't vote for him, pray for him. That's really trusting God.


--Johnie