Twin City church of Christ Blog
“Nov 22, 2024 - God Wants All People to Be Saved”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsGod Wants All People to Be Saved
Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
As he works with the church in Ephesus, Timothy needs to stress certain priorities. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way”(1 Tim 2:1-2). Christians are a people of prayer, petitioning God on behalf of those around us. Paul wants us praying for our rulers at all levels, acknowledging the blessing of their leadership. This remains true even when we disagree with the policies or character of those leaders (as often happened for Christians under Roman rule). The specific request of our prayers is “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way”(1 Tim 2:2). We ask that government leave us alone to obey God unhindered, allowing our transformed lives to change the world from the ground up.
But Paul also seems to connect the government’s lack of interference to the reception of the gospel. “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”(1 Tim 2:3-4). God wants all people to be saved; this is his will for the world. When government allows us to live a peaceful and quiet life, the gospel can be preached and obeyed unhindered. Our prayers have a purpose: not merely that we can have happy lives, but that the gospel can have free course in a freer society. We pray toward this end.
Paul informs us that God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Statements of God’s desires are invaluable. They give us a clue to God’s heart and will. They help us to pray confidently, knowing that we are on the same page with God. They transform our desires so that we are in tune with God. God wants all people to be saved. Do I?
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One Thing to Think About: How is God opening doors around me so that others can come to know the truth?
One Thing to Pray For: Our leaders to allow us to live peaceful and quiet lives
