We can and should pray for our leaders because the Lord tells us to.  1 Timothy 2:1-3 tells us, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.”  It is so important that all our political leaders are being prayed for.  In this portion, we are instructed to pray for them so that we might lead quiet and peaceable lives…lives where we can continue to serve the Lord without the hindrance or interference of our government.  As bad as our government is today in the USA, we should thank the Lord that we still have the freedom to worship and serve the Lord and to gather with other believers without our government restricting our activities.  Not every country has that privilege. 

I have to agree that many of our leaders are evil and corrupt, but shouldn’t we pray even more for them?  Proverbs 21:1 tells us that, “THE KING’S HEART IS IN THE HAND OF THE LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”  What a precious and comforting thought.  The Lord holds the hearts of our leaders in His hand, and He turns their hearts as He pleases.  The Lord is able to change the hearts of the most evil leaders.  That should motivate us to pray for them constantly.

Besides praying for our leaders, we should also obey them.  Let’s read Romans 13:1-4, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: THE POWERS THAT BE ARE ORDAINED OF GOD. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For HE IS THE MINISTER OF GOD TO THEE FOR GOOD. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”  All our leaders are placed in power by the Lord.  Indeed, they are “ordained of God.”  As such, we should obey them.  When the Apostle Paul wrote these words, Nero was in power.  He was probably the most evil and ferocious emperor Rome ever had…yet Paul exhorted the believers to obey him.  Today, we are told the same thing…obey our leaders because the Lord has ordained them to their position of power. 

I can find only one instance where it would be permissible to disobey our government.  If they ordered us to do something that the Lord directs us not to do…we must then disobey them.  As the Apostle Peter and the other apostles said in Acts 5:29, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” 

May we be faithful to pray for our leaders and obey them according to the perfect will of God.  (CC)  (489.4)