“Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension” (1 Timothy 2:8).

The first thing the wicked one wants to do is bring in dissension.  First, do not be the one through whom it comes.  Second, if you are in a position to do so, stand your ground against such things.  Be one who lifts up your hands in prayer and seeks what the will of the Lord is.  Be one who walks with the Lord and seeks for others to do the same.  Be sensible, stable, and serve as the Lord commands.

Lord, these are easy words to hear, but difficult words to live.  In Your Spirit, teach me how to do these things so that with maturity I may be a part of Your fellowship.  Guide me in Your goodness to do all the things You would have me do knowing that You have given me the Word of life.  Teach me how to live peacefully with others and do those things which are pleasing to the Father.

Lord Jesus, You told us that You did only what the Father told You to do.  Teach me how to live this way.  Guide me in Your goodness to see through the nonsense of this world and even those who practice it unaware.  Guide me to live consistently and faithfully.  Teach me so that I may become like You in all things and do what the Father commands me to do and not do.  Teach me how to be faithful.  Amen.   

“For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth” (1 Timothy 2:7).

I am telling you the truth, I am not lying, Jesus is the Lord and Savior of us all.  Without Him, there is no hope.  With Him there is great hope.  He alone is the way, truth, and life.  But the world does not believe this and so it calls out to all who say this a lie.  But that too is a witness.  Why is there such hatred of Jesus unless He is who he says He is?  Listen to your pastor and believe his report.

Lord, open my ears to hear the truth.  Open my heart to reject what is false and would deceive me.  In all things, grow in me the ability to discern between the real lies of the wicked one (and those who repeat them) and the truth that You speak.  Only in You is there hope and a future.  Apart from You, I can do nothing.  Guide me, Lord, to hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.

Lord Jesus, You came in a specific way with a mission and You have accomplished for us our salvation.  I am still here, so the journey is not yet complete.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You know I need to go.  Guard my heart from the wiles of the wicked one and teach me all that I need to know.  Lead me to listen and learn.  Show me the way of wisdom and hold me forever close to You.  Amen.

“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

There is One mediator between us and God. Throughout the Old Testament it said over and over again, “God is your Savior.”  It is God who alone is able to do what needs to be done.  Only with God are all things possible.  He has done it through Jesus who is the Christ and God in the flesh.  He did this by being a ransom for all.  Come then into the salvation which God has prepared.

Lord, You know what is needed and what You have accomplished for our salvation.  Lead me in the way of the salvation that You have prepared.  Guide me according to Your goodness to walk in Your way so that I might not do things my way, but Yours.  All that You see that is needed, thank you for providing.  At the proper time, dispense all that is needed so that I may continue to faithfully walk with You.

Thank You Lord Jesus for being the ransom and propitiation for our sins.  You died once for all so that we might have the power to become like You, children of God.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth and keep me steadfast in this life of faith that You have given me.  Through it all, Lord, help me to hold fast and not waver in my faith and, my practice of it.  Help me to always remain faithful.  Amen.

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).

This is good.  Loving those in authority is what he is talking about.  Why?  Because God desires that no one be condemned.  He loves all whom He has made.  There are those who will reject Him, but He loves them none-the-less.  We who are called to become children of God are also to love as we are loved and, even more, to love those who hate and revile.  It does not matter; we are to love in spite of and not because of another’s actions.

Lord, You first loved me and have called me to live into the love relationship You gave through grace.  Keep me on this path so that I would continue to grow into the life for which I was created.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth and lead me in Your will to do all that is right and fitting.  Grant that I would always share the Good News, for I do not know who will hear and believe.

Lord Jesus, You reached me through the words and deeds of so many others.  Help me, Lord, to reach others by being consistent in word and deed.  Or should I say, reach others through me.  It does not matter; only that Your will be done in and through me.  Lead me always in the way You know I need to go and help me always to humbly abide with You as You lead me in the way of truth.  Amen.

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

No matter who is serving where, we are to pray for those who rule or are in authority.  Remember, the Lord tells us that we are to love our neighbor.  That includes all in positions of authority.  The world hates, but those who follow Christ love.  Therefore, learn to pray for all.  When hate is removed from you, there is peace.  When you see in the other an individual for whom the Lord died, it changes everything.

Lord, the world is filled with hatred and everyone seeks whom they support and whom they hate.  Help me to live as Your follower and learn how to truly love all.  You died once for all.  The “for all” means everyone who has been created in Your image.  Lead me into the deeper and more peace-filled life so that I would grow in Your likeness and do what is right and good in the Father’s sight.

Lord Jesus, You know the difference between my intent and the reality of how I live.  Guide me, Lord, to live according to Your Word in order that I would now and always abide humbly in You and Your Word.  Lead me according to Your goodness to see that in You alone is all hope and an eternal future.  Lead me into that future loving my neighbor, praying for those in authority and listening to You.  Amen.  

“Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme” (1 Timothy 1:20).

The church seldom does it these days because it is not nice.  But we are not called to be nice.  Letting a trouble-maker — those who seek trouble, seek for themselves, wanting what is right in their mind — go may be unpleasant, but we are to seek what is right in the Lord’s eyes.  All we do should be for the sake of the salvation of our neighbor.  So, Paul instructs Timothy that he is to let go of those who blaspheme the Lord.  This is a critical matter that the church often ignores.

Lord, You have said I am blessed when I am kind, but help me to never confuse that with being nice.  Who needs nice?  Help me to be genuine in caring, considerate of other’s situations, and willing to do what You ask me to do for the sake of my neighbor.  Lead me, Lord, to have genuine and real righteousness that comes only from You.  Let me not learn the hard way but learn by following You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save us and will let nothing stop us in the way of our salvation.  Lead me Lord in the way You know I need to go.  Guide me according to Your goodness so that I would now and always humbly abide in You and You in me.  Teach me righteousness and keep me from blaspheming.  In You alone is there hope and my hope is that You will perfect me in faith.  Amen.

“This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith” (1 Timothy 1:18-19).

Fight the good fight.  To be Christian in our world requires entering a tremendous struggle.  We do not fight flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, and forces of darkness.  Keeping the faith with a good conscience means doing what you do knowing you are always in the presence of the Lord.  Do not reject the faith, nor keep up with the world, but live as the Lord leads and in the direction He is leading you.

Lord, help me to see through the insanity of this world and live according to the goodness and mercy of Your presence in my life.  You know where I have let go and where I need to hold fast.  You know where I have slipped and need once again, your grace and mercy.  You know all that I need.  Help me to look to You as the source for all my needs so that I may now and always humbly abide in You.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and always walk with you leading.  Let me not be handed over to the wicked one for giving in to temptation but hold tightly to You and learn from You.  Teach me how to fight the good fight with a clear conscience and help me hold fast to the faith You have given me.  Amen.

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17).

From this verse, we hear the words of the hymn, “Immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes, most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.”  Scripture is alive with the truth and breathes, even in our singing, the truth of the Incarnation and the grace and mercy that comes forth from God for our benefit is breathed.

Lord, there are so many that have given testimony of Your goodness and graciousness, and I often just go on through life as though none of this matters.  Help me, O Lord, to live into the grace and mercy You have given me that so I would follow closely with You all the days of my life.  You are the One who has made all things possible and only in You is there true liberty and life.

Lord Jesus, You have made the invisible visible and made life from death.  You have come so that all who are in You might now and forever be guided by You, the light that shines in the darkness.  Guide me, O Lord, that I would hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  Guide me so that Your light might be reflected through me and that I might shine in this dark world for all to see that You are in me and I in You.  Amen.

“Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16).

Mercy is not receiving what is due.  We all receive mercy.  Acknowledge the mercy you have received.  It humbles you so that you do not fall prey to the temptation of thinking that these are things you deserve.  We deserve God’s wrath but in His mercy we receive grace upon grace.  It is not a matter of being worthy, but of being called.  You have been called by the Lord into His light.

Lord, this world tells me I deserve so many things.  Lead me away from its temptations so that I may be under Your mercy and grace.  In that sense, it does not matter what I deserve, good or bad.  I am the recipient of salvation by grace through faith. You have made these things true in me, Lord.  I had nothing to do with that.  Help me see this clearly and to live into the new life You have given me by faith.

Lord Jesus, You are the way, truth, and life.  In You is all hope.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I may now and always humbly abide in the truth of Your great love.  You are love incarnate.  In that love I have received from You great gifts.  Lead me, Lord, in order that I may now and always humbly abide in You and You in me.  May I be always thankful for the gifts of grace You have given me.  Amen. 

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (1 Timothy 1:15).

The bottom line: Christ came to save sinners.  We all like sheep have gone astray.  We know that sin brings death.  Therefore, the Good News of the Gospel is that the Savior has come and that all who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Lord, this is so simple and rolls off my tongue, yet the truth is that this shatters my illusions of goodness.  I am not good.  Only You are good.  Yet You did not create me evil, nor to remain in sin.  The Savior connects these two concepts so that I would be brought into Your goodness.  Put me on the path that leads to everlasting life, guiding me in Your goodness, mercy, and grace made possible through the salvation in Christ.

Lord Jesus, Lamb of God, Good Shepherd, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of life that I may not rest in my own thoughts, but let Your thoughts become my thoughts, and Your ways my ways.  Lead me in the faith You have given me so that I would now and forever be in You and You in me.  Lead me into Your salvation, Lord Jesus!  Amen.