Dr. Jim Johnson, ECA Superintendent
This Eagle’s View article is being written at a very rare time in American history; I write this on the morning two days after the 2020 U. S. presidential election day. At this moment, the presidency is still undecided, as six states have not declared the disposition of their electoral votes and the ballot counts from several other states are being contested. Furthermore, we are now into our tenth month of the global COVID pandemic which is having a serious impact on the lives and health of Americans, as well as accompanying economic challenges. Day-to-day life of families and school age children is drastically different than what we knew it to be at the beginning of 2020.
While these are different and challenging times for all of us, we can still be comforted and strengthened by the timeless words of the Bible, and passing on these everlasting truths to the next generation without wavering is the work of our partnership with parents at ECA. The following passage was written by the Apostle Paul about 2,000 years ago to the young Christian minister, Timothy. Take time and read these words from I Timothy 2:1-8, and my applications for us below:
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. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Let us always be a praying people!
The first thing mentioned here is for us to pray; often, prayer seems to be a last resort. But notice the variety of types of prayers we ought to integrate into our prayer life. To paraphrase verse one for understanding, let us ask God for our needs, meditate on Him, seek His involvement to bring about His way, and let us be thankful in the way in which He provides. Notice, this is not about us. Let us understand and teach that seeking the Lord’s ways and being satisfied in Him is best.
Prayer for leaders and those in high positions (and all people) is urged!
Regardless of who our leaders are, they need our prayers. I find Paul’s contrasting choice of words regarding the outcome of prayer to be interesting and strategic – even for today. He desires prayer to yield peaceful, quiet lives, godly and dignified. But not to be with anger or quarreling. I pray that this next generation, through the example of our spirit-led lives, may be calm while committed to the Christian faith.
The gospel of Jesus Christ has been, and always will be, pivotal in our lives!
Paul’s mention of the atoning work of Christ in the midst of this passage seems to be there as a reminder
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