All People

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You know, sometimes there are people we don't really jive with.  

Maybe they are a bit irritating, or they don't follow social boundaries.  Maybe they never learned the art of listening without sharing a one-upper.    And by this I mean, if you had a flat tire on the way to work, they had all their tires slashed once at the mall.  You know that person.

You don't want to be unkind, but really, those people will never have a place in your inner circle.  

Right?  

You'll be kind.  You'll be polite, but they will never be the one you invite over to watch a Hallmark movie, go out for lunch, or go on a girl's weekend out.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, from the NLT we are given a pass on having to include the people I mentioned above in our inner circle.  You know, the ones who are disagreeable, ornery, or can't seem to ever live up to our high standards.   

Well, guess what?  You don't have to go out to dinner with them or spend the weekend doing puzzles in front of a roaring fireplace.  

But here is what God's Word does ask us to do.   

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

Surly, when Paul the Apostle was writing this letter to Timothy, he couldn't have meant that in 2020 we were to pray for ALL PEOPLE!

Why in the world would I ask God to help someone I didn't like, someone who held a different view than me.  

Okay, pray for them doesn't sound so bad but intercede on their behalf, that sounds intense. 

Then Paul goes so far as to break it down from all people to those in leadership and authority over us.  

Now that's getting a bit personal!

What was he thinking?

Maybe, Paul was more focused on how this behavior would benefit us in the long game.  

The last part of verse two tells us what we will receive if we choose to pray and intercede.

...so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

Well, it just so happens that I do want to live a peaceful and quiet life that is marked by godliness and dignity, but first I have to be willing to do something...

Pray and intercede for ALL PEOPLE.

Yes, even the ones I don't particularly agree with.



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