The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Timothy 2:1-4, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Ever since the disciples of Jesus said, “LORD, teach us to pray” (Lk. 11:1), well-intentioned Christian men have been asking the same thing. When Paul says, “First of all…” he is signaling something of prime importance. It cannot be left until later because it might be forgotten. Paul was an apostle, and he might have utilized his authority in saying that. Instead, he urges,

appeals, exhorts them as fellow-believers to pray fervently for all men.

Surrounded within this circle of encouragement were the spiritual and political leaders of the day –every day. We are to pray earnestly for all who are in authority over us. It certainly includes political leaders (whether or not they are believers themselves); it includes spiritual leaders, pastors, and teachers. It includes law enforcement personnel, who derive their authority from political leaders.

But why are we commissioned to pray for these authorities? It is because they keep the peace. And why do they keep the peace? It is to provide for us a quiet and tranquil way of life, as we endeavor to live serious, godly lives. All of this meets the approval of Almighty God. His creation of the world was not so that men might fight and maim and kill each other, but that we might all live acceptably in the sight of God.

The LORD God “desires all men to be saved” and that they might “come to the knowledge of the truth” (v. 4). Unfortunately, the disposition of man is to rely upon himself, hoping against hope that his self-works will satisfy the LORD. But they will not! “You must be born from Above,” Jesus said (Jn. 3:7).

“But if it is the LORD’s desire that all men be saved,” you ask, “why does He not just declare all men “saved, or forgiven”? One might just as well ask why the LORD did not create people with only the will to obey His commands. When we engage in trying to second-guess God, we are dangerously close to usurping His position.

Our responsibility is to accept Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior, and then live as He instructs, sharing the Gospel with all men that the desire of our LORD might be realized. Are you living for Him? Are you sharing His Good News with others? I hope and pray that you are!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”