"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority" 1 Timothy 2:1-2
1 Timothy 2I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
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Dear reader, calls for violence against Russians and Russian President Vladimir Putin, or former American President Donald Trump, or Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, etc, etc, are just plain evil. The spirit in back of such calls is not of God. Such are the perilous times in which we live.
"The man who treats lightly the love and mercy of God will soon lose natural affection towards his fellow men." Hamilton Smith
Please listen to this excellent sermon explaining God's institution of human government, Submission to Government, Romans 13:1-7, Dr. Andy Woods, March 4, 2012
"It gives great confidence and quietness of spirit to know that God is over all, and that He can, and does, control the waves of evil, saying, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further." And in this confidence the Christian becomes an intercessor on behalf of all men, and is of the greatest service to his day and generation. This is God's will for His children, that "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority: that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
As long as the Church is on earth, God will keep His hand upon affairs and make all things work together for the good of them that love Him. It must always be so, since He is the One who has said,
It is "Alpha and Omega," whose word is infallible and final, who proclaims,
"I will give to him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."
He is the giving God, He delights to give; it is His very nature. He does not withhold His gifts even though men are unthankful and unholy. We praise His goodness as we think of His kindness to men, but what tongue of men or angels can tell the love that led Him to give His Son? This was His "unspeakable gift." Thanks be to Him for it, for ever."
J T Mawson
(updated 9/4/2024)
Photo by Will van Wingerden on Unsplash