“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” (1 Timothy 2:1 NLT)
We’re twenty days in and still cruising through our thanks-giving scriptures. Fair warning, this one might hurt a little. Give thanks for all people, pray for them too? All people? Like everyone?
I’m searching my heart and I know I’ve failed at this instruction time after time. If I’m being totally transparent – I typically only pray for the people I like. Now, fortunately I like most people but that certainly doesn’t let me off the spiritual hook. It’s hard for me to pray for the folks that rub me the wrong way. It’s tough to intercede for those that challenge my thinking and even express hostility toward the things that I hold dear. It’s excruciating to pray for those who sin against us. And in this social media age, it’s easy to identify the enemy because they’ve carefully typed it out, shared a link and posted the meme, right?
I’m learning. Heinous offense requires heinous forgiveness. Part of forgiving is releasing our offender into God’s blessing. We aren’t truly forgiving unless we can bless; we have only really let go when we can lean in and pray God’s best for the ones who sin against us. Remember, God’s best is right relationship with Him. Isn’t that the ultimate cure for our wounded transgressor?
Paul points it out to his young friend, Timothy: begin with intercession for all people. No excuses. Even those you vehemently disagree with. Even your enemy. And then, thank God for them.
The order of this instruction is important. First we pray. In prayer we gain a glimpse of God’s heart for His people, even them. Remember, He created each of us in His image, He delights in ALL His kids. As author, William P. Young puts it, God is ‘especially fond’ of each of His children. Of course He is, He’s a good Father! When we pray, we begin to see what God loves about our fellow man, they become less of an enemy and more of a sibling. In prayer, God speaks to us about the experiences that may be shaping their worldview and as He does, we begin to see them as souls instead of soldiers marching against us. Then, when we’ve realized the iceberg below the surface of this person we’ve been ‘dealing’ with, we can thank God for who they are, who they could be and all that they awaken in us.
Pray for and thank God for all people. It’s a command that could revolutionize modern culture if we committed to it. Even just believers, what if we practiced this instruction until we got good at it? Really good at it? I suspect we’d become in-offendable. When others lash out in anger or pain our reflex would be intercession, not reactive aggression. We would be freed up to press in for their need right then and there.
“But I say love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:44-45 NLT)
The highest aim for our enemies is that they would become friends of God. Prayer and thanks giving are the catalyst; the ignition switch that sets possibility into full-on combustion. Paul persuades us. Jesus commands us. Let’s begin today.
Lord, it is tough to pray for those we disagree with, the ones that challenge our worldview and frustrate our feelings. It is even harder to pray for the ones that outright hate. Yet You’ve made a request and an example: praying for Your persecutors from Your very instrument of death. We are Your people, Lord. We follow Your lead. Today we comply with Your instruction; praying for those we don’t understand, releasing forgiveness and even gratitude for those that see the world from an entirely different angle. May they become friends of Yours and may we rejoice in their divine inclusion. Amen.