At church this Sunday I saw a picture of Obama which took me a little by surprise but the message was about praying for our leaders. See Congrats to Obama. The unborn lose on all initiatives but the traditional marriage wins on all intiatives as the culture wars continue..... So I thought it would be neat to post some comments on those verses for what struck me of interest and to encourage others to pray for our leaders and a quick not on modesty.

I have had two dreams of loving arguments with Obama. One I was about to explain to him why I can't vote for him as he was borrowing our copy machine at my mother's house that he lived right next to at the time. Of course in the dream only. Then I had another dream that my wife and I were sitting down with Michelle Obama in a hotel room and just talking and then Obama came in and I got the guts up to lovingly argue the abortion issue at which point Obama got a little frustrated and kind of walked off and then a friend or sister was in the room and began to argue with me about something to the effect that you don't know what it is like where I come from in Africa at which point I was going to attempt to sympathize with as much as possible without compromising the lives of the unborn but then I woke up...

This was not in my dream but one thing for sure is that it may be rough in areas of this world and some people will justify an abortion for those reasons however, just as rough as it may be in this world it is that much or more so in the womb of an abortive society anywhere in this world. These arguments from the left completely ignore the fact that they are arguing at the sacrifice of human lives. In times past the child was sacrificed for some false idol or god. Now we do worse. We sacrifice to ourselves human lives. Abortion can not be the answer and certainly isn't God's. I say we trust God's way and wait for His blessing acting by faith. That is the Godly solution.

I understand that many are concerned about population and this and that and statistically they may have a possible point but morally they have nothing and God can not bless an immoral planet thus it is not of faith we are acting when we destroy lives to save our planet it is at the expense of faith in God's way that we are doing so. It will never work. If God be for us who can be against us we can rely upon God for change in our world and a better planet but if God be against us then who can be for us.

I just put those odd dreams and comments in this post so I don't forget them for whatever possible future reason and since it has a little to do with the scriptures that I wanted to post a quick commentary on.

The verses the pastor had gone over was 1 Timothy 2:1-7.

Prayer for Kings and for all that are in authority

"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; 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. "

There is a lot to focus on and much more then what I will post here. But I wanted first to start with the 2nd word "exhort" while other versions use the word "urge". So God thru Paul in the scriptures is exhorting or urging us to do the following. It is an exhortation or urging.

Normally I read thru the list of actions in this verse being "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks" as just simply praying. But I found the last word "giving of thanks" to be of interest. I was not pleased that Obama won but God exhorts and urges us to give thanks for our leaders as we pray for them.

Now Paul says "first of all" we are exhorted or urged to be praying for "all men". And then Paul goes on to list specifically "kings, and for all that are in authority". I found this interesting cause I have always known the importance of praying for friends and family and immediate needs but never thought of praying for those in authority as a urging or exhortation from the scriptures.

And the purpose for this praying is "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." In Paul's day you had very non-biblical rulers but Paul still urges and exhorts us to pray and give thanks for them for the purpose "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

Now Paul puts a most interesting seal of approval on this as if this may be a difficult exhortation or urging to pray for kings. Paul says, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour..." So know that it is "good and acceptable" to pray for all men which also includes kings and those in authority for at least one reason is that God "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." So ultimately for the salvation of all men. Because "there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all".

Now for the purpose of salvation we must pray for those in authority. If we do not pray for those in authority then in some sense we are not praying for the salvation of all men. I found this somewhat conviction and gives me new zeal to pray for our leaders and especially since Obama is taking his oath we need to pray for him for this biblical end being the salvation of all.

Now Paul then says that he is "ordained a preacher, and an apostle, a teacher to the gentiles". Paul even had to say concerning this statement of his apostleship to the gentiles that he speaks the truth in Christ and lied not. It seems that part of the urging to pray for kings and those in authorities and all men was because all men included gentiles of course which includes kings and all in authority for salvation and for the purpose of salvation to all kinds of men everywhere. That whosoever would believe will be saved. In Paul's time there was a debate concerning gentiles and jews and so this may explain why Paul emphasized his apostleship to the gentiles so strongly.

And then on to conclude on the prayer issue Paul says, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."

Now I read on a little further then what our pastor preached on and so a quick note on modesty below.

Importance of Modesty

"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. "-1 Timothy 2:9,10.

So is it not interesting that modest apparel is tied up with Paul's exhortation and urging to pray that Paul says "in like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel". So just as important and urging of a call for us to pray for all men so that all may be saved it is just as much as an urging and a calling for women to adorn themselves in modest apparel. Note the phrase "which becometh women professing godliness...with good works". That is what they are to adorn themselves or value themselves with and so should we men encourage that. Society seems to focus on the outside which is a big distraction to good works. But also, notice "women professing godliness" and match that to one of the reasons why we are to pray for "all men, for kings....that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness". So godliness includes modest apparel and also is connected to the goal of the salvation of others. So dressing modestly actually encourages the salvation of others and is godliness. That was a new concept for me when it comes to teaching my daughter the necessity of modesty.

I just found that quite interesting and what may be convicting is that inmodesty actually opposes the very reason why we are to pray for "all men, kings...." that being the salvation of others.

This gives a great motivation for us fathers to teach our daughters on the importance of modesty and gives them a proper ultimate end of motiviation to be modest in apparel and rich in good works for the sake of the salvation of others.

Conclusion

Prayer even for kings and those in authority that we may live peacable godly lives and modesty have alot to do with the salvation of others. So may these ends and motivations as we pray and practice modesty bring new life to both these practices resulting in the salvation of others.

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