1 Timothy 2:1-4 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 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 Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

What are they thinking? Once again, our Government tears itself apart in cabinet coups. Possibly, this behaviour makes sense to the party room. For those of us ignorant or disinterested in political machinations, it appears incompetent. Granted, it must be hard to build a team from strong-minded individuals who by persuasion are political animals. It must be hard for that team to work together, under fierce opposition and public scrutiny, on the multiple complex challenges our nation faces.

A cabinet coup, yet there has been no military uprising. My seven-year-old is none the wiser our Federal Government is in such turmoil. The utilities remain operating and none of us have started hoarding food. The Prime Minister is vulnerable, yet we all expect our country to remain fundamentally stable. Our system of government helps. But this stability runs deeper. In our culture there is a conservatism, a politeness even. You and I may have divergent opinions, but it is hard to imagine the masses rising with munitions to enforce their view.

Not to be alarmist but we should not take it for granted. Things could one day become so painful in our nation or world, this may change. What world will my worry-free seven-year-old grow into? Is it reasonable to expect standards of living will keep rising? What challenges and complexities will our children face economically, morally, politically, socially? There is some cause for optimism. I think there are many reasons for tempering that optimism. How will we navigate towards a better future?

As Christians, our foundation for hope lies in our good God. But that hope does not extricate us from the unsettling sea of global movements. Enough good Christians suffer worldwide to check that platitude. As heart stopping it can be to say, that bickering mob in Canberra have a real, God ordained, part to play in securing the future, for the good of all. As do all placed in authority. We can’t be seven-year old’s here, nonchalant and none the wiser. Our leaders need us. Our future needs us. They need us all to pray and for those with God given opportunity, they need you to lead.

In Him.

Jason