#DailyDevotion A Problem Is We Just Don’t Pray Like We Used To

January 30th

Read 2 Tim 2:1–26

1Ti 2:1-6  First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,  (2)  for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  (3)  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,  (4)  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (5)  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,  (6)  who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

 

I am thoroughly convinced that things are worse in our lives and in our countries because we do not pray as we ought for what we ought. How often are we praying for the people around us? Do we ask God to bless the people we meet, the people we work with and for? Do we intercede for our enemies and ask God to bestow upon them every good thing?

 

Are we praying enough for our leaders, the president, the governors, the representatives, the judges? Do we pray for the teachers who teach the citizens of our country? Are we lifting up in prayer our parents, our children and our pastors that God would grant them all wisdom from on high to lead and teach as they ought?

 

The purpose for our praying St. Paul tells us is so we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. But this comes not by praying for ourselves alone but praying for all these people in our lives. If people in our lives are causing us grief and we are not lifting them up in prayer interceding for them in the heavenly places where Christ Jesus has seated us, then it is no wonder we are not living in this manner. But we can change that today. To pray for these people is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior who intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father.

 

For our Father desires all men to be saved bar none. He wants your enemies and the people who are simply a pain to you and the people who unbeknownst to them are causing you grief to be saved. For God the Father sent His Son to be the mediator between God and me, the man Christ Jesus. In Christ, we intercede for them as he intercedes for us. We cannot give ourselves as a ransom but Jesus gave himself up for a ransom for all. Everyone’s ransom has been paid by the life blood of Jesus, God’s Son. That’s means in particularly you. Yes you. No one is excluded from the mercies of God in Christ Jesus and the fact that you are reading this means you especially are not excluded from his mercies. So rejoice in the gift of salvation, it is yours! All the more, intercede for those who do not know they have been ransomed by the blood of Christ Jesus so the good news can reach them as well.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, you and the Holy Spirit intercede for us before the Father of Lights. Give us such faith that we may intercede for the world before us that we may fulfill your will and live lives pleasing to your heavenly Father. Amen.