Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. - 1 Timothy 2:1-6 NKJV.

Three 16-year-old boys in Elgin, Illinois were a little bored last month, so they started playing a game. The game involved splashing gasoline on their shorts, setting them on fire, and then rolling on the ground to try to put out the flames. One of the boys ended up going to the hospital after receiving second-degree burns. How sad that they felt they had to try to make things more exciting in such a dangerous way. 

So many times, we are like those boys in Elgin, Illinois, and we do not really appreciate having quiet and peaceful lives. Many of us have been blessed with years of peace and quiet. We have been able to go to work and other events without being in fear of our lives. For many across the world, that peace is being replaced with fear. Irrational violence has reared its ugly head from Washington D.C. to Australia. Organized and orchestrated violence has reached out and shattered peaceful lives from New York to Bali. 

(Update: It did appear to be a very dangerous world in 2002, but the entire 20th Century was a dangerous time with millions being killed by evil people. The 21st Century is shaping up to be more of the same, if not worse. Just as we needed God in times past, we still need Him today to hold us together as we face what life may bring into our lives. We will never outgrow the need for our God.)  

I have a new appreciation of peace. How wonderful it is when you do not have to be afraid. What a great blessing we have been given to live quiet and peaceful lives for so many years! It appears, however that the peaceful lives many of us have known may soon disappear if it hasn’t already disappeared. 

What would God have us to do at this point? If we would have peace, we must pray. We must pray for all people, all leaders, and all those in authority so that they would come to know and be led by the Prince of Peace.