Wednesday, 12 January 2022
PRAYING FOR ALL MEN
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men (1 Timothy 2:1).
The underlined portion of our opening verse suggests that the sentence is a continuation of a subject earlier introduced. The most relevant context is found in the 18th verse of the preceding chapter, where Paul writes to Timothy, saying: “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18). The next two verses are a brief digression, after which Paul continues, “I exhort therefore…”
So Paul was actually showing Timothy how to war a good warfare. He said, “…first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” “First of all” means this is priority in warring a good warfare. You begin by praying, not for your personal requests, but for all men.
For a long time, a number of God’s people weren’t praying with this in mind. Many were more concerned about their personal agenda and what they wanted from God such as money, property, fame and other earthly things. The adversary took advantage of this for a long time to wreak havoc in different nations, but thank God the Church has learnt and is now awake to her responsibilities. We’re acting on the Word, praying first for all men.
We’ve been called to war a good warfare and the instruction is clear. He says, “First of all,” meaning before you pray for other things — be it your family, business, finances and so on — pray for all men. How important this is! In fact, it ought to be a foundational teaching in the Churches. As we lead souls to Christ and bring them to Church, we ought to let them know they have an enemy whose goal it is to destroy them. We must teach them to pray as soldiers, not for their personal needs, but for all men.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for pouring out your Spirit upon all flesh all over the world that the knowledge of your truth may be effectively communicated to all men. I pray for as many as will be reached with the Gospel today, that the light of the Gospel will shine in their hearts, resulting in their salvation. Thank you for this grace, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1-4
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 9:18-38 & Genesis 29-30
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 8:26-40 & Esther 5-6