WHAT LOOKS GOOD TO GOD

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-5 NKJ 

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus 
 

Paul is writing to his "son in the faith" Timothy. Tim traveled with Paul, and they shared a father-son relationship. Now Timothy is the pastor, overseer of a large church during a difficult time, and Paul is writing a personal letter. It may have been personal, but it was still inspired by God.   

Side note:  Some of the best messages are not from preachers but from godly people to those they care about in the Lord.   

Paul is telling Timothy how to pray. He exhorts or encourages him to pray for all people. And then he lists kings and all in authority. When Paul wrote this letter, Nero was the emperor of the Roman Empire. And Nero was a wicked evil man who killed Christians. But Paul said to pray for him. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God.   

The overarching purpose of praying for those in authority is that we can live in peace and dignity and focus our efforts on reaching people for Christ. When things get bad, our human nature goes into self-preservation survival mode. God desires all men to be saved. All is a broad term. It means all. That would include bad authorities and people we don't agree with.   

Paul then reminds Timothy that there is one God and one Mediator, go-between, between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. This is a clear reminder that there are not many paths to God. That God is not whatever we choose for Him to be. One God and one way to Him, and that is Jesus. This may not be politically correct, but the darker things become spiritually, the more spiritual truth will stand out. God desires all to be saved, and salvation is only through His Son Jesus.   

APPLICATION: 

What looks good to God is that we pray for all in authority. My wife Joy, who has led a woman's prayer group for over 20 plus years, has found that people generally like to pray for only those leaders they agree with. But that's not what God has instructed. He wants all saved. He loves all people from all parties. As His children, our first allegiance is to do those things that look good to Him.   

PRAYER: 

Father, I pray for the president and all those in authority. May Your will be done in our land. Enable us to lead lives free from turmoil that we may utilize our time and resources to expand Your kingdom and see more saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.