When we pray, we pray for all. In good times and bad times, pray for all.

“¹First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ²for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2

As I read this morning, God drew me to this part of the passage. We are to pray for all, not something new or exciting or profound in and of itself. Where the profoundness for me came was in the commentary that I read regarding the verses.

Verse 1 is pretty understandable, I am looking and focused on verse 2 this morning. “For kings”, those “in high positions” is how the verse leads. We are to pray for those in authority, nothing new there, but when? My New International Version (NIV) has some commentary surrounding verse 2 that I would like to add here:

“When our lives are going along peacefully and quietly, it is difficult to remember to pray for those in authority, because we often take good government for granted. It’s easier to remember to pray when we experience problems. But we should pray for those in authority around the world so that their societies will be conducive to the spread of the gospel.”

Notice that prayer in good times and bad, and the last sentence is such a great part to explain the reason for our prayer. I myself fall into the traps of praying more urgently when things are not going well and when they are ok, I miss out on the opportunity to lift up “kings and all who are in high positions”.

I have to remember that our prayer is powerful and, IT WORKS.

“¹⁶…The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” – James 5:16

When you pray, are you using your power in prosperous times just as you are in difficult ones? Do we pray for all, and I mean all? I wonder, do we remember to pray for the “spread of the gospel”? What does your prayer look like?

We have a new self.

“¹If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things that are above, not things that are on earth…¹⁷And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:1-2 & 17

Paul points out that we should be focused on Christ and where he is now, as that is where we are preparing to be as children of God. Which brings me to the question: Why would I be concerned with things of this earth? When we are following God as we should, we should not want for any of our needs, for God will provide our needs here.

I know that I get caught up in the desires of the world: a nice house, couldn’t we use a newer car, what about newer clothing, and the ability to provide new for the boys. I have to put all of that behind me and move forward on my journey to be with Christ. I have a responsibility to be an example of Christ here on earth. I have to do my part to run toward Christ and away from the sins of the world.

We are human and therefore everything but perfect, however we should be striving to be more like him each and every day while still here on earth. When we accepted Christ as our personal savior, we were given a new self and we should be wearing that new self in the world for all to see.

Are you working to bring glory to God? Are you leaving the things of this world behind and putting on the new self that was given to you by God? Are you being an example of God daily?

 

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Obedience and Discipline and Instruction.

“¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.   ⁴Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”  Ephesians 6:1 & 4

A friend once told me that in essence, we are “foster parents” of our children and that we are raising them here on this earth for God.  And since we have that responsibility we have to be sure that our children are raised with love and care.  Notice in the verses above that obedience, discipline, and instruction are “in” or “of” the Lord, not of us.

This does not diminish our roles here as parents and children.  We are still responsible for obedience and discipline and instruction.  We are to be “in” and “of” the Lord at all times and know who we are ultimately answering to.

Below are verses 5 and 9 to continue the illustration of how we should act:

“⁵Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,…⁹Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven and that there is no partiality with him.” – Ephesians 6: 5 & 9

I am constantly being taught more and more as I study God’s Word, and today is no exception.  We are here as God’s has granted us to be.  He is our Father and Master and we should treat him with that reverence.  We should also treat those that are our earthly parents, children, slaves, and masters with the same reverence, for they too serve the same Father and Master.

How are you engaging with those who care for you and those you care for?  Are we treating all with the reverence we treat the Lord?  What can we do differently for more obedience and discipline and instruction?