November 8th, 2023
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
(1 Timothy 2:1–4 esv)
I originally had other plans for this Pastor’s Desk email - but this afternoon I saw that KREM2 has reported that our local elections office is closed until tomorrow after an employee discovered an envelope containing some unidentified white powder;* similar envelopes have been discovered in other counties throughout Washington although there has been no comment on whether the incidents are connected. The situation is currently developing, so it is likely that there will be new information even by the end of my writing to you here.
Romans 13:1 says “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” We can take this confidence from Paul’s statement in Romans 13: there is not, never has been, nor ever will be a geopolitical scenario that is beyond the sovereignty of our Triune God. Knowing this to be true - we can pray with confidence that the LORD has a plan for both our church, and the world around us that no human hand can thwart. It is also worth remembering that “grace has means” - that God has not only planned the destination, but also laid out the course to it. It is to that end that, as Christians, we are called by God in his word to pray for “kings and all who are in high positions.”
Please take some time today to pray for this instance of apparent interference - pray for justice, pray for peace in our state as results come in; pray for those who currently hold office, and those who will in days to come.
