1 Timothy 2:1-4
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.
He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one...
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Like many people, I am a multi-tasker. Most mornings, I eat my breakfast while “watching” the news and scrolling through messages on my computer and/or “reading” the daily newspaper. I listen to television while I sew, iron and fold laundry, or cook dinner. And I will admit that, at best, I only see/hear about two-thirds of what I “view”.
There are some programs that I must sit and watch while I do nothing else, in order to catch everything that is said and done. Otherwise, I find myself backing up and viewing certain scenes again. The “pause” and “rewind” buttons on the remote come in handy quite often as I attempt to do several things at once and keep up with what is being aired.
All of us are susceptible to constant distractions…and nowhere is this more evident than in our Spiritual lives. The devil loves to get us off track…to fill our plates with all sorts of responsibilities and “noise” so that we have trouble finding time to be still and listen for the voice of God. Before you know it…we have distanced ourselves so far from Him and filled in the gaps with other things…and we wonder what happened – and where God went!
The Apostle Paul is telling Timothy – and us – two things: 1) pray every way you know how, so that you keep the lines of communication with God open; and 2) pray for others…that each person would stay focused and on task, so that we are free to do the things that God has designed for us without the distractions and additional baggage from others. This sounds like a selfish motive…but actually, it is quite the opposite.
We cannot be in full fellowship with God when we are distracted or trying to do too much at once. When we take on the duties and drama of others, our own ministries are often diluted. Yes, we are to care about those in our midst…to serve God by serving them and offering love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and more. But God did not call us to be all things to all people. He created a plan and a purpose for each of us.
So we must pray that each person does his/her part…in order that we might do ours. There are no “pause” or “rewind” buttons for our faith. We’re on “play” all the time. Ask God to give you – and all of His children – focus and intention, so that we might be able to spread the Good News of Jesus with confidence and conviction. Find time to “be still and know God”…and discover what He really has to say.
©2015 Debbie Robus
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