WHAT GOD DESIRES
1 Timothy 2:1-6 NKJV
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
Paul is instructing Timothy on the proper order for prayer and the reasons behind the prayer. In these six verses, we see some important truths regarding this gospel that we proclaim and believe.
First of all, pray for all men. For kings and all who are in authority. Paul was writing during the days of Nero, the crazy emperor of Rome. This was the authority who was cruel to Christians, and yet Paul said to pray for him. Over the years, I have prayed for presidents I supported and those I was not aligned with. But the Lord impressed this verse on my heart back in the 90s, so I stopped complaining and started praying. I pray for state and local authorities, and I pray for the Body of Christ and those in spiritual authority.
The reason behind our praying for those in authority is that we can lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. When all hell is breaking loose on the earth, it makes it harder to spread the gospel. People are so distracted by the upheaval that it hinders the message. And praying this way is good and pleasing to God, who saved us.
Then Paul states a short phrase that is the motivation for keeping an emphasis on reaching people for Christ. Who, God, desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. We could look at that phrase and wonder why. If God desires everyone to be saved, then why doesn’t He just do it? Well, He already did it. God already provided salvation for everyone on the face of the earth, but He does not make us choose Christ. He desires for all to know and all to be saved, but the salvation is only through Jesus.
Paul’s next verse has to rankle so many who believe there are many paths to God. Paul states it succinctly. There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. So, there it is. No being good enough to get to God. No having many ways to reach God. No, your truth, my truth. One God and one way to Him, the man Christ Jesus. Who gave Himself as a ransom, the payment to free us all from sin and death. That truth doesn’t sit well with some religions, but no other religious leader paid the price for our sins. No other man or woman was sinless and therefore the perfect sacrifice. No one else paid the ransom price. And where no price was paid, no freedom is offered. And Jesus did not buy into the many paths to God concept. He plainly stated that He was the way and the truth and the life, and no one came to the Father except by Him.
This is why we pray for all men. This is why we proclaim Jesus as the answer. This is why we give people an opportunity to respond to Jesus after every message. This is why we support world missions. God desires all people to be saved, and we want what He wants.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I pray for all in authority and for all men. We desire to live in all godliness and dignity and have the freedom to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. We desire what You desire, for all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth that’s in Jesus.