my election reverie....

OK, so Kim had some great insights into the whole political picture considering she is living out of the country and I think that it is great to keep informed.
And it got me to thinkin"....
Kim had some great verses on this matter and one in particular jumped out out at me:

I Timothy 1:1-2-"First of all then I urge that entreaties and prayers, petition and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."

Let's consider the historical background of this passage of scripture:

Nero was the Roman emperor at the time and history has shown his cruelty and his barbarism toward his fellow man especially after Rome burned and he blamed the Christians for that, which only served to make him more cruel and barbaric.
The Christians to whom Paul was speaking were seeking a "quiet and tranquil life" so that they could live godly lives marked with dignity.
They were under attack!!!
They had to meet in secret for fear of reprisal from the Romans who hated them because of their beliefs.
They were not free to worship God openly for fear of reprisal from the Romans who hated them for their beliefs.
They were isolated from secular society and all that comes with that for fear of reprisal from the Romans who hated them.......
Let's just say what it was; the world around them hated God and His Son, Jesus.
Are you sensing a theme here?
Not to the extreme, but, does it feel familiar to anybody???
This country hates God.
This country doesn't acknowledge Jesus.
This country has a strong disdain for evangelical christians.
CHRISTIANS ARE UNDER ATTACK IN THIS COUNTRY FOR THEIR BELIEFS!!!!!!
We, too, seek to live quiet and tranquil lives where we can practice godliness and dignity and yet, we live in a society that calls us "dangerous" and "radical" and "narrow-minded" where we cannot intergrate our places of work and education with any outward expression of faith in God for fear of reprisal from the "Romans who hates us for our beliefs".
Paul was speaking to his brothers and sisters in Christ words of encouragement because they lived in fear of the government that hated God. He urged them to pray for their king as well as all men in authority over them so that they could live tranquil and quiet lives.
And yet, did that generation ever experience those things that they sought???
No.
Peace and tranquility and living for God without fear of reprisal did not happen for several hundred years until God placed a new emperor on the throne, Constantine, who declared Christianity legal.
Just like that generation Paul was speaking to, we should fear a government and a "king" who hates God and devalues the people whom he supposedly serves.
We, too, cannot hope to live lives filled with peace and tranquility until God places men who love Him and serve him on thrones.
Does that mean we have no hope?
Of course not!
We are called to be thankful for all men and in all things.
We are called to have joy in our circumstances.
We are called to know that God is sovereign and to serve Him and Him alone, for He is worthy of praise.
We are called to pray.

"The fervent prayers of the saints availeth much."

I urge you , my brethern and sistren(hehe), to think soberly and sincerely whom you would see put in power over the people.
It IS a weighty issue not to be taken lightly or with the complacenct attitude that says; "well, anyway, it doesn't matter who's in office" or "God places kings on thrones" and leave it at that.
Yes, God is sovereign but sometimes when we have turned from God and we begin whining about what we think we need, He says," you want it, you got it".
Look at the Israelites when they wanted a king even though God gave them judges to preside over them.
God said, "You want a king?"
Yes, the people cried.
So, He gave them Saul.
Yeah, that didn't work out so well.
Was that God's best for His people?
UHHMMMM....NO!
But, it was what they asked for.
Please, please, please...we must be careful what we ask for.
We all have a voice and we all have a responsibility to be informed about whom we deem worthy to be placed in positions of authority over us.

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."