Day 8
1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, 2 even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
“First of all”
” First of all, prayers. No matter what the work, no matter what the need. The Church’s strength starts with prayer. How much of the load is taken off someone’s back, because of; another’s prayer? Only the Lord knows. Paul’s message here is clear though. At the Church beginning there was this need for prayer. As it has continued on, there is still a need for prayer.
” v. 2 that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life…”
The best part of leading peaceful and quiet lives isn’t that we get to relax. It’s not that we’re free to fallow all or dreams or have our choice in careers. It’s not, never having our freedoms of speech and religion, challenged. It’s not so we can sleep soundly without the threat of war. Not that any of these are wrong. They’re all good things and God wants to use them to further His Church. Still, they aren’t the focus, they aren’t the reason to live quite peaceable lives. Jesus didn’t die so we could all just have easy, prosperous and safe lives. He died to save the world from sin. The reason for quiet and peaceable lives, is so we can focus on spreading the gospel, building the Church freely and financially. Not our own kingdoms but His.
When, we are not hindered by governments. When we are not having to defend our religious liberties, when we’re able to make a living. Live without the threat of war. It’s not so we can take it easy. It’s so we aren’t hindered in spreading the gospel. This is why we are to pray for “kings and all those in authority…”.
Unfortunately what happens often times is, a nation or group having been living peaceably and quite due to prayers. Then begins to take it all for granted. Forgetting the importance of prayer. God will use these circumstances to bring people back to their knees. Still, it would’ve been better to have stayed on them in the first place.
Let’s look at the next verses. 3 “Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior,”… Here we see that it is something God wants us to pray for, here’s why; “4 since He wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.”It’s all about the Gospel. It’s always about the Gospel.
The most important thing, ”First of all” to ensure that we can freely spread the gospel and live out our Christianity is as Paul instructed, is Prayer.
So, pray today for all of our officials, no matter what office they hold. Pray first for thier salvation. Then pray that they would do thier jobs wisely and justly. That we will live peaceable and quite lives in order to focus on spreading the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!
💜Kelly ClayWoo
Psalms 24
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