One of the chief problems Timothy faced in Ephesus was the presence of false teachers who advocated a form of spiritual elitism that assumed people need a kind special access to connect with and understand God. WRONG!

Spiritual elitism emphasizes the well-being of a select few, but followers of Christ seek everything good for everyone. That’s why Paul encouraged Timothy to tell the Ephesians that prayer must be offered to all people so they can fully comprehend God’s unending love and his call on them to serve others.

Serving Christ in this way means we must be ready to wage war against the spiritual forces hurtling toward us out of the darkness. We must be ready to fight off the world’s persistent and pervasive call to be selfish with our faith. We must be ready to pray for and serve EVERYONE…not just a “special few.”

IT’S ALL ABOUT HOPE

Paul was coaching Timothy that our HOPE is activated through: 1) Prayer for others (everyone); and 2) Activating that prayer through serving them.

This hope is, at its core, in Christ Himself. It is not a religion or a rulebook. And it is never about “wishing” for a “better world.”

Even though Biblical hope is not fully manifest, it is certain because it our hope rests on a resurrected and now reigning Christ (Ephesians 1:20-23).

The aim of our prayer and service is to bring glory to God.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Who are you praying for TODAY?

I ask God to help me make it a priority to pray for everyone I encounter…with a foundational goal of helping him move them toward embracing his unending love.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Who are you praying for TODAY?

“…I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people; 2 for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2