Tag Archives: 1 Timothy 2

Drowning the noise…

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Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. “Let us break their chains, ” they say, “and throw off their fetters.”

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

(Ps 2.1-6)

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvellous deeds; you alone are God.

(Ps 86.5-10)

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may lie peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

(1Tim 2.1-3)

How long, O Lord, must the earth raise such a din of defiance and despair to her creator?

How long, O Lord, must the weak endure exploitation and the strong become ever more intoxicated and deceived by their power?

How long, O Lord, must the truth about your King, the Lord of Love and Peace, of Justice and Wisdom, be drowned out by the strident triumph of evil as it harnesses human weakness to its own ends?

How long, O Lord, must your faithful people strain to hear your summons to truth, to trust in Christ, to believe that you are truly on the throne and that your kingdom will prevail?

How long, O Lord, must we stick our fingers in our ears in order to shut out the scornful, acid-dropping mockery of our neighbours, loved ones and all those who condemn our folly in trusting that there is any reality beyond this physical world? 

Father, I am so tired of trying to believe your promises; trying to believe that in spite of all that I see and can’t help seeing, yet Christ is on the throne, and you will prevail. The noise is exhausting, and so hard to block out – I feel like a fool when I try, like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand and hoping the darkness and the fury will go away if I pretend it isn’t there..

I DO believe that Jesus came to die for this broken world, so beloved by you. I DO believe that one day all will be made new, and that the din will be silenced, to be replaced by the songs of your redeemed and the renewed, full-throated praise of the whole creation as we rejoice together in the age to come. BUT I am so tired now, so very tired of trying and failing to hold together your promises and my lived reality.

In my weakness, Father have mercy and hold me fast. In my confusion, Father have mercy and speak clearly through your word. In my bruised and battered senses, cowering under the onslaught of darkness across our world, Father have mercy and open my eyes afresh by your Spirit to the beauty of this world as it speaks of you; open my mind to discern that your power is undiminished and you are at work. In my smallness of vision, and narrowed hopes, Father have mercy and speak truth – so that I might not dishonour you by faithlessness or despair. Even as the prophets spoke amid ruin, cruelty, loss and fear – boldly proclaiming your covenant love and power for your people, promising a future eternal kingdom and perfect king – so let me hold fast in the midst of darkness, proclaiming the light.

Let me learn from your apostles, who went to a world full of darkness, with good news, and whose focus was not on political regime change, or peace-movements, but on gospel proclamation and living. Let me learn to be more urgent and earnest about sharing Jesus than about anything else, and thus be an instrument fit for your purposes. Let my enemy not disable me through despair over this world when you have revealed your eternal victory over all evil. Oh Lord, let me not give way, but be kept firm in faith and hope and love, for Jesus’ sake, Amen

When love seems baffled…

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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 Saviour God want us to live.

(1Tim 2.1-3, the Message)

Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of the rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? 

(Isa 10.1-3)

Seek the Lord and live, or he will sweep through the house of Joseph like a fire; it will devour, and Bethel will have no-one to quench it…. You [who]turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground.. you hate the one who reproves in court and despise him who tells the truth. You trample on the poor.. you oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts. Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such times, for the times are evil.

(Am 5.6,7,10,11-13)

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be peace-makers – most particularly exhorting others to find peace with God through Jesus, but also pursuing peace in personal relationships and between communities. To this end, Paul encourages his readers to pray for rulers and those in authority, that we might all live quietly and free from lawlessness and the appalling destruction of war. It is out of love for God and for others that we pray and pursue peace, and yet all of human history is stained deepest red with violence, conflict, oppression and the abuse of power – so deeply has human rebellion against the way of God broken us.

This rebellion has its roots in human pride, and in the failure to submit to and trust in God – at all levels of society. This is why so many of the prophets were absolutely vicious in their denunciation of the authorities and rulers in Israel and Judah – because the very people who ought to be creating conditions for peace were abusing their power to acquire wealth, extend their dominion, and caring nothing for the cost. The love of God was expressed through the prophets as righteous anger against those responsible. In our day and generation, nothing has changed and humankind continues to suffer at the hands of those whose authority was given to them to be exercised in love.

Ultimately, the bible assures us, these abusers of power will answer for what they have done – as we will too, on the day of Christ’s return. We ought therefore to be praying all the more urgently that they might recognise their position of stewardship and behave as trustworthy and loving under-shepherds over God’s creation.

But how can we respond individually as we see the outworking of human sin and brokenness, when our media is full of unspeakably distressing images of suffering and devastation? For myself, I feel baffled and powerless – ought I to join protests, to flood my social media with outraged and frantic posts about what is happening? Or ought I to be bombarding my elected representatives with messages demanding action? It seems that nothing is making any difference, and so I mourn in private, praying for those in need and for those with the power to make a difference. Is this a sin of omission? Are those who judge me for my silence right to do so? I don’t know.

Our Lord assured his disciples that for as long as God ordained the earth to remain, we would endure war and rumours of wars – and all the grievous consequences thereof. No nation has a divinely-ordained ‘right’ to exist, and all humankind are here purely by the gift and grace of God. He is not the particular possession of any political creed, or people group, but is Lord of the nations, and it is not wise to misrepresent or appropriate him for any human cause. He is working through all things for the exaltation of the Lord Jesus and the coming of the Kingdom. Human evil, in war and oppression is – and always has been – the context in which He perfectly expresses his love, justice and holiness.

It is simply unbiblical to assert that, in this world, we will be free from this evil, but I long to know how best to conduct myself as a believer in the face of injustice, gross abuse of trust, and the insidious complicity of my own nation and therefore of myself in the ongoing destruction. I can take courage from the prophets, knowing that it is right to confront our leaders with the injustice which their actions have caused or permitted; I can use my small resources to make a difference to perhaps one or two lives – each one eternally precious to the Creator. Above all, I pray and exhort others to pray, since only the Almighty, All-knowing, All-loving God can truly make the difference which we long to see. To bring all the troubles of his world to God in prayer is surely the priority, and we must not lose faith in His power and goodness.

On human frailty

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Hallelujah. Praise the Lord, O my being! Let me praise the Lord while I live, let me hymn to my God while I breathe.

Do not trust in princes, in a human who offers no rescue. His breath departs, he returns to the dust. On that day his plans are naught.

Happy whose help is Jacob’s God, his hope – for the Lord his God, maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever, does justice for the oppressed, gives bread to the hungry, the Lord looses those in fetters.

The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord makes the bent stand erect. The Lord loves the righteous.

The Lord guards sojourners, orphan and widow He sustains, but the way of the wicked contorts.

The Lord shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Hallelujah.

(Ps 146 R Alter translation, 2007)

Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils, Why hold them in esteem?

(Isa 2.22)

Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord… But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream…

A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary. Lord, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water.

(Jer 17.5,7&8,12&13)

I urge, then, first of all , that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

(1 Tim 2,1-4)

One of the – many – wonderful things about believing in Jesus, and trusting in God as our Father and Creator, is that we are invited to learn to think about the world, about time, and our place in it as God does. We are offered glimpses of the great divine narrative, and as that story is embedded in our thinking, becoming our story, we are set free from so much that brings fear, anxiety, all the tossings to-and fro between hope and despair which beset those who have no anchor in eternal love.

God’s children are invited to put their hope in the only one who is worthy of it – the Almighty One, the Maker and Sustainer of all things, and the Author of the story. We are invited into an intimate, loving and trusting relationship with the only being who really is in charge. and can orchestrate everything that happens in order to fulfil His purposes – which are for blessing, beyond our imagining, as we take our place in his family and inherit the new creation.

Until that day dawns, this world is subject to the evils which beset those who have consistently rebelled against their creator, who persistently trust in their own gifts (which are truly good things, God’s gifts to us) in order to live without God in the world. Humankind is increasingly reaping the harvest of unbelief, of human pride and rejection of God. Populations are lured by extravagant promises of a golden future, to be inaugurated by leaders who know full well that they cannot actually deliver these things, and are playing on human needs and desires in order to gain power. No one, not one human being on our planet, is actually in control, no matter what their social media claims for them. 

While God may choose to permit the rise and persistence of regimes which bring appalling depths of suffering and cruelty, which dismiss the threats to our world’s fragile climate, which survive by threats, repression, mis-information and constant surveillance – the bible is clear that He is not tainted by or culpable for the decisions of these leaders, they will answer to Him for their use of power. 

Human frailty is written all over history, and we can see it today as we look around. How great is our relief then as God’s beloved children to know that we can put our faith for our lives and our future – and this world’s story – in God, who alone is able to bring good out of evil, and light out of darkness. We do not need to be buffeted by current affairs, and must be wary of being sucked into the waves of exaggerated reaction which increasingly masquerade as news. We have a foundation which is sure, and must exercise the discipline of fixing our eyes on God, keeping human beings – no matter how ‘powerful’, in their places.

Thank you Father, that you alone are reliable, and that in You I can trust. Help me to pray for those in power in our world, remembering their frailty and need of salvation. Help me to live steadily and confidently by faith in Your power and purposes, not swayed and frightened by what happens. Let my small life be a witness to your sovereignty, justice and goodness, so that others may come to put their trust in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sulky exiles, or responsible citizens?

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This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile..:”Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce…Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

(Jer 29.4,5&7)

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God…You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous…Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

(Matt 5.9,43-45&48)

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

(1Tim 2.1&2)

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right…..Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honour the King.

(1Pet 2.13,14,16&17)

As followers of Jesus, redeemed children of God, we often think of ourselves as exiles in this world, of people whose real home is not here, not in this place of darkness, pain and evil. We rightly think with joy on the prospect of a life to come, when we shall be free of sin- in our own lives as well as those of others- and when the new creation will be our glorious dwelling place, all as God intended and designed it for us.

But the words of the prophet Jeremiah to the exiled Jews in Babylon give a clear instruction for God’s people in that situation – get stuck in, be involved, care about your community, be constructive and positive and be at home there. It may not be your ‘forever’ home, but it is the place of God’s calling for this time, and his plan is that through your presence, it might be blessed. There is no distinction between seeking God’s will for their lives and seeking God’s will for the place where they are living, no need to choose which should be their  focus.

I believe that this is also a word to us in our time, uncomfortable though it is for followers of Jesus as our culture increasingly rejects him and the truth he stands for. God has placed us here for this time, with all the opportunities and abilities chosen and crafted for us by his plan to bless us and through us the communities of which we are part. Will we be enthusiastic in our place of exile? Or will we sulk and withdraw into holy huddles, bemoaning our situation and withholding our gifts and presence from those around us?

Our challenge then is to be fully invested in our communities, supportive and active, without falling into the patterns of thought and behaviour which may characterise that community. To be Jesus followers is to be peacemakers, to be those who refuse to believe the worst; who chose to respect those with whom they disagree; who choose to love, not demean their critics and who will pray for all as those created – like us- in God’s image and precious in his sight.

In this week of elections to the Scottish Parliament, the need for respect, truth-telling, love and humility are obvious. We may not always find these qualities in our politicians, but we must always pray for God to be at work through them to bring the stability of our society, the welfare and compassionate care needed by so many, the equality and protection of dignity for the weakest, and even the freedom which allows people to disagree strongly. We pray in effect, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done” in our society, even through our imperfect politicians, and we play our part in supporting and respecting the institutions through which we enjoy the rule of law, the provision of public services, and the freedoms which so many in the world are denied.

I cannot do everything needful for the transformation of society, and indeed that will happen only when Jesus comes to make everything new. But in the meantime, I pray that I might learn to hear his voice and to obey his calling to live for him, and in doing so, to bless the place to which he has called me.

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