November 11, 2024 GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE
1 Timothy 2:1-4 “First of all then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgiving, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 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 truth.”
We serve a God who is loving, who is kind, who is patient, and who desires the best for mankind; His burden is light and His yoke is easy. The USA has just gone through an election and obviously there are a lot of divided political opinions and viewpoints. Even though there is political division, God gives instructions as to how His people should respond. We are exhorted to make ‘entreaties,’ ‘prayers,’ and ‘petitions.’ Entreaties are defined as an ‘earnest or humble request.’ Prayer is defined as a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God.’ Petitions is defined as ‘appealing to authority with respect to a particular cause.’ These terms or similar, but there is some difference. Note that we are to make entreaties, prayers, petitions and thanksgiving on the behalf of ALL men, including those who are in authority. We are to pray for those who we disagree with; that is good and acceptable to God. We do not need to pray that God will make them think like us because we are convinced that we have it all right. We are simply to lift others up to God, asking Him to speak to them, to give them wisdom, and to draw them to Himself. We are not the judges. God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth. Truth is found only in God. God desires that those in authority will govern in such a way that the citizens can live a ‘tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.’ How awesome that is! So, even though we live in a politically and every other way a divisive culture, let us keep the main thing the main thing-let us make entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgiving on the behalf of all men-doing such is good and acceptable in the sight of God. We should know by now that arguing and putting labels on others does no good; however praying for and lifting others up to God can make a difference. (It’s ok, and can be a good thing to discuss political issues and to speak up for truth, but we must do so in a spirit that honors the Lord.) In Matthew 5:44 Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Those who we disagree with may or may not be our enemy, but in any case, we are called to pray for them that they would experience the love of God. We have our mandate for living in a divided culture-let’s be about it.
Proverbs 11:25 “Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor.” 1 Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for this you are called, that you may obtain a blessing.”
Blessings, Buddy
1 Timothy 2:1-4 “First of all then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgiving, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 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 truth.”
We serve a God who is loving, who is kind, who is patient, and who desires the best for mankind; His burden is light and His yoke is easy. The USA has just gone through an election and obviously there are a lot of divided political opinions and viewpoints. Even though there is political division, God gives instructions as to how His people should respond. We are exhorted to make ‘entreaties,’ ‘prayers,’ and ‘petitions.’ Entreaties are defined as an ‘earnest or humble request.’ Prayer is defined as a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God.’ Petitions is defined as ‘appealing to authority with respect to a particular cause.’ These terms or similar, but there is some difference. Note that we are to make entreaties, prayers, petitions and thanksgiving on the behalf of ALL men, including those who are in authority. We are to pray for those who we disagree with; that is good and acceptable to God. We do not need to pray that God will make them think like us because we are convinced that we have it all right. We are simply to lift others up to God, asking Him to speak to them, to give them wisdom, and to draw them to Himself. We are not the judges. God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth. Truth is found only in God. God desires that those in authority will govern in such a way that the citizens can live a ‘tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.’ How awesome that is! So, even though we live in a politically and every other way a divisive culture, let us keep the main thing the main thing-let us make entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgiving on the behalf of all men-doing such is good and acceptable in the sight of God. We should know by now that arguing and putting labels on others does no good; however praying for and lifting others up to God can make a difference. (It’s ok, and can be a good thing to discuss political issues and to speak up for truth, but we must do so in a spirit that honors the Lord.) In Matthew 5:44 Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Those who we disagree with may or may not be our enemy, but in any case, we are called to pray for them that they would experience the love of God. We have our mandate for living in a divided culture-let’s be about it.
Proverbs 11:25 “Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor.” 1 Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for this you are called, that you may obtain a blessing.”
Blessings, Buddy
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