Utumishi Blog

In an earlier post we said there is a time to stand still and do nothing, purely receiving God’s saving grace (Exodus 14; Eph. 2:1-9) and there is a time to run the race, still on the receiving end of grace but co-operating, working, doing, acting by that grace (Phil. 3:12-15; 2 Tim. 4:7; Col. 1:29 etc.).

On the second category, Don Carson writes of Jacob in Genesis 32:

None of this means he is so paralysed by fear that he does nothing but retreat into prayer. Rather, it means he does what he can, while believing utterly that salvation is of the Lord.

On the one hand, Jacob sets in motion a carefully orchestrated plan (32:1-8)… On the other hand, he prays, reminding God of his covenental promises, pleading his own unworthiness, acknowledging how many undeserved blessings he has received, confessing his own terror, begging for help (32:9-12).

Jacob takes action and prays…

(For the Love of God, Vol. 1, Jan. 31)

You could add the example of Nehemiah – again, action and prayer. As we approach election day in Kenya on Monday we remember the importance of both – voting and praying. On praying for leaders I was helped by Josh Moody’s little article written around the time of the US elections. To summarise it, we pray for leaders:

1. Because they are people (1 Tim. 2:1). “Leadership is a tough job. And our leaders are people like us doing a difficult job.”
2. Because we’re told to (1 Tim. 2:2). Including for those who “we deem to be illegitimate, or who in some way abuse their authority” as did the powers in Paul’s day.
3. That we may lead peaceful and quiet lives (1 Tim. 2:2). “This is very different from a pseudo-messianic view of political leadership. We do not pray that they will solve all our problems, or reverse the effects of the Fall, or solve every calamity that may happen on their watch.” We pray simply that we would be spared chaos and oppression.
4. That they would encourage or at least allow godliness (1 Tim. 2:2).
5. That the gospel would be allowed to spread (1 Tim. 2:3-4). “We want schools to be open to the gospel, universities, public spaces, and churches and Christian institutions to be able to go about their work unhindered. Paul does not ask us to pray that the government would itself convert people; it is unable to do that. Government instead has the relatively limited task of allowing for the gospel to do its job, which, by the power of ‘God our Saviour’, is the conversion of all those who believe.”

Tuombe..