The message that I took away from the scripture last Thursday night was first concerning prayer. In my preparation for this service, I found the following unattributed poem:
Thou are coming to a King
Large petitions with thee bring
For His grace and power are such
None can ever ask too much...
A reminder to pray for everything and everyone. We need to also remember to not pray 'against' our adversaries. We can pray for guidance for them (as well as ourselves, remember YOU MAY BE WRONG) and for grace and reconciliation for and with them. Hostility and hatred towards anyone is not Christ-like... remember that the kings that the writer of 1st Timothy is talking about included Nero... the greatest persecutor and executor of Christians that there probably ever was... think about that when you're praying.
The second point is that Christ truly and certainly was and is the Savior of ALL mankind. God sent Christ into this lost world to bring ALL of His children home. Always, always, always remember that the person whom you are talking to was/is so valued by your God that He died for them...
Be a blessing to someone today!
In His Grace,
Roy
1 Timothy 2:1-8 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Instructions concerning Prayer
2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For
there is one God;
there is also one mediator between God and humankind,
Christ Jesus, himself human,
6 who gave himself a ransom for all
—this was attested at the right time. 7 For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth,[a] I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
8 I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument;
Footnotes:
1 Timothy 2:7 Other ancient authorities add in Christ
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