Bible Reading: Psalm 107-108; Romans 15:22-33.
Memory Verse: “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;” Romans 15:30 (KJV)
King David called Joab, the captain of the host of Israel to go and count the people of Israel. Joab tried to dissuade the king from taking the census. He said God had multiplied the Israelites and the king has known this, why then did he need to count? ( 2 Samuel 24:2-3). The king would not listen and so Joab went with his men and did the counting and gave the result to the king. It took them nine months and twenty days. Thereafter, God sent Prophet Gad to the king giving him three options of punishment for undertaking the census; was to take one from them. It is noteworthy that each of the three options will involve the suffering and death of the Israelites! By the time the king chose one, seventy thousand men died as a result! (2 Samuel 24:10-15).
This is why it’s important that people pray for their leaders. The decisions those leaders take affect the people positively or negatively and so when they pray for their leaders, the people are indirectly praying for themselves. If the Israelites had prayed for David then, he would most likely not have taken the wrong decision and all the resources wasted in taking the census as well as the people that died would not have happened.
This is why the request by Apostle Paul in Romans 15:30 (KJV), “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; “ should be extended to other leaders whether secular or spiritual. You should pray for their physical, mental and spiritual well-being so that it may be well with those they lead. This applies to all leaders including those at home, in your offices, in church and in government among others.
Action Point: Pray for the physical, mental and spiritual well being of your leaders.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero