1 Timothy 2:3-4, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of our God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Paul had just instructed Timothy to make it a priority to pray for all people and those in authority. In other words, put it on your To-Do List if you must remind yourself that you have a responsibility to pray for one another and those in leadership and governing positions to rule well. The Amplified Bible states it this way, “This [kind of praying] is good and acceptable and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wishes all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the [divine] truth. Salvation is offered to everyone, but each individual must choose to accept or reject God’s gracious offer.” This was what Paul’s purpose and goal of his ministry were set on as he says in 1 Timothy 4:10, “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” How did Paul instruct Timothy to do this? He explains it in 2 Timothy 2:24-26, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” If you are in a planting seeds of the gospel, one-on-one situation, or in a teaching situation, listen intently to people’s questions and never fall into foolish debates.
Here we have instructions from Paul to help us know how to pray for the salvation of our loved ones, those in authority in government and other leadership positions, and all we encounter within our sphere of influence. Pray that they will come to know and understand the knowledge of the truth of the gospel. We need to not only be an expert, like a professor, in our position of employment, but recommend our Redeemer because we are an example of the gospel. It takes gentleness and patience which I often fall short of having. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and we need to mirror Christ and Christ’s image in order to be salt and light continually. The enemy will use conflict, fear, and frustrations to take our eyes off Christ. Don’t give him a seat at your table. Instead use weapons of Scripture to combat doubts, conflicts and what ifs, because you are a representative, an ambassador, a child of the risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Yes, we are paying outrageous prices to fill up our cars with gas. Covid seems to be lessening somewhat, in the headlines in the news. There are new updates every minute on the Russia-Ukraine situation while the price of a barrel of oil is $107 today. Inflation rose 7.9% in February, a new 40-year high. Matthew 24:6-7 states, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed., for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”
Continue to pray for the knowledge of the truth of the gospel to be realized and accepted, for the salvation of souls in government, those in authority, and all in your sphere of influence. Put the name of the person(s) you are praying to repent from their sin and to believe and accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, in 2 Timothy 2:26: “And they – _______________ may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil . . . ” Remember, we that have Christ, have an eternal escape plan.
Listen to God So Loved Lyric Video by We The Kingdom.