Our Bureaucracy Which Ain’t in Heaven

In the midst of our present trial, many of us have petitioned our various governmental leaders to hear our concerns. Perhaps you’ve sent letters or made calls to the politicians, or stood on the front steps of city hall. You might have asked yourself, “Will it do any good? Will it make a difference? Will they even notice, hear, or care? Who knows?!”

Earthly governments are not absolute authorities, so when the occasion arises we do well to petition them to hear our concerns, answer our requests, face our objections to their overreach, and act on the injustices we face. However, there’s a stark difference between making our requests to a bureaucracy and lifting our prayers to our Heavenly Father. 

Try counting the number of prayers offered up throughout our worship service (hint, we’ve already offered up two). Christian worship is––in large part––a prayer service. We sing some of our prayers. We confess our sins in prayer. We lift up various needs and thanksgivings in our congregational prayer. We do this because our Lord Jesus commanded us to ask the Father––in His name––for whatsoever we need.

Not only that, but He’s promised to act and answer us. He doesn’t tell us to take a number. He doesn’t send us a canned letter. He doesn’t tell us to get with His secretary. He isn’t a faceless beauracracy. He is our Father. 

We have a whole host of requests in this season. Are you fearful of the virus? Worried about looming bills? Frustrated by the governments’ overreach? Concerned about food shortages? No earthly power can resolve all these problems, provide protection from these calamities, or bring peace in the midst of the storm. So carry it all to Your Father. He hears you, answers you, and does so because you are purchased by Jesus’ blood.