Scripture

Vs 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

VS 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.

VS 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

VS 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Observation

Paul is encouraging Timothy to be prayerful for everyone … all people.

What’s interesting is who the first people he says to pray for …

Kings and those in high places.

The Israelites were a people under forced rule and authority of an outside empire … a source of persecution.

Yet, Paul is encouraging prayer for them.

Why?

Three things …

First, because it’s “pleasing in the sight of God”.

Pain wants to please God.

Second, because God wants us all to “come to the knowledge” of who He is and salvation.

Paul wants what God wants.

Third, “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way”.

Application

Do I want to please God?

Do my wants line up with what God wants?

Maybe it’s not that simple …

Of course, I’d say I want to please God.

But perhaps I’m trying to do that in ways that ultimately please myself!

Take Paul’s transformation for example … it’s fascinating.

I think when Paul was going around persecuting and killing Christians, he would say he is pleasing God.

But really, he was doing so in a way that pleased his own thinking and perceptions of what God desired.

Paul’s wants and God’s wants obviously weren’t in line with each other … even though he was adamant that they were.

So, what made Paul go from persecuting to praying?

“The knowledge of the truth” … Paul met Jesus who said, “I am the Truth”!

Paul came to see the knowledge of the truth and not the knowledge of his own tradition and religion.

God wanted all people, even gentiles, to know who God is …

And this would change everything about Paul’s life …

Even his very interactions with God, not just his interactions with others.

His very prayers themselves changed …

So, for me, do I have a full knowledge of the truth …

Do I pursue it?

This will lead me to see what pleases God and not just what pleases me?

And my behaviors will be an outflow from that.

I will pray for what God wants.

I will live the way God wants … “peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified in every way”.

Kind of seems like a dream life, actually.

But I can’t get it by praying for my dream life … selfish prayers.

I need to start with “knowledge of the truth” and then pray for “others salvation” …

What may flow from that … is my dream life … peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified.

And it may just be what God wants, too!

Prayer

Thank you, again, Father, for Your Word.

Help me live the Truth.

Help me want what you want.

May it please you

And give me peace

In Jesus name,

Amen