“I urge, then, first of all, that repuests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
After 2 years of measures to keep us safe from the COVID virus or, from another perspective, of restrictions of freedom and dialogue, our country and the world is in turmoil. So what does God require of His people in the midst of this? Most of us know that Jesus called us to be peacemakers, so what does that look like in these circumstances? The answer Paul gives the church in the tumultuous times of his day is, that first of all they should pray. They should pray all kinds of prayers for all kinds of people….that would include the truckers, those inconvenienced by the protest, the average citizen, the police and those in authority, like our Prime Minister, Premier and the Mayor of Ottawa, and the governments they lead. We are to pray that attitudes, decisions and conditions will transpire that create an environment where we can live in peace and quiet, but also in godliness and holiness, not a false peace.
One of the encouraging things that is happening at the protest here in Ottawa is that many Christians are seeking to live out the truth and speak out the truth. As a result many people are accepting the Prince of Peace into their hearts. 20 people were baptized on one occasion and there are many other stories about people either coming to Christ, others accepting New Testaments, and others engaging in conversations about Jesus. Some have even been allowed to share the gospel from the trucker’s platform, in the midst of this conflict. So, please keep praying that truth and love will triumph.
