1 Timothy 2:1b – In the Game

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 

Summary: Christians don’t “fight” like normal people. Instead of trying to dominate others, we strive to submit ourselves to God’s will.   

Christians “fight” in ways that are different than the ways of the world. Instead of knowing the best techniques for kicking and punching, we strive to be expert at “petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving.” 

So is this true for all types of fighting? 

The specific challenge Paul is talking about has to do with conflict in the arena of thought. How we think about God matters.

Why? 

Later in his letter to Timothy, Paul writes, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith….” This is caused by following “deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).

Unfortunately, this leads us back to the question, “Can a person lose their salvation?” Once again, I am going to defer to God’s judgment on this matter. People argue about this, but the reality is that we don’t know. If we say “Yes,” then we risk putting the burden of salvation on us, and if we say “No,” then we risk putting God in a legalistic box of our own making. 

So let’s set that question aside and look at the practical implications of this fight. 

What does God want us to be thinking about and doing with our lives? Micah 6:8 comes to mind:

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.”

Let’s use this as our reference point for a thought experiment. To “act justly,” “love mercy,” and “walk humbly” with God requires that we love God above all else (Matthew 22:37). If we love God that much, we are going to want to know him and please him. That means we know his Word, the Bible, and we listen to his Spirit (John 14:26). 

At the very least, if we listen to “deceiving spirits and things taught by demons,” it leaves less room in our minds for the Word and Will of God. If we are confused or distracted by false teachings, we can’t be fully engaged in the things God wants us to do. 

To use a sports analogy, if our head is not in the game, we can’t be effective on the field. Instead of contending for God’s will, we might end up spending our lives sitting on the bench. 

Application: Don’t sit on the sidelines, live for Jesus! 

Food for Thought: How does spending time making “petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving” make our lives more effective for God’s kingdom?