[This is good, and pleases God our Savior,] … who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Summary: Paul’s words to Timothy are among the most hopeful and inspiring in all of the Bible.
Perhaps there is no better description of Jesus’ reason for being born a man and dying on the cross than this passage: [God our Savior]… “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
I would love to have a Time Machine, so I could go back in time and sit down next to Timothy as he read this letter. In my mind, I can see him light up at the news of the letter’s arrival. He quickly runs to meet the courier and gladly accepts the package from Paul.
Perhaps he reads it aloud to everyone with him, but I think he probably found a quiet place to read it alone first.
When he reads Paul’s instruction to “command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer,” (1 Timothy 1:3) he understands what Paul means. When Paul mentions “the prophecies once made about you” (1 Timothy 1:18), he remembers them fondly. When he reads Paul’s words about lifting up prayers for all people (1 Timothy 2:1), he smiles, knowing Paul’s love for sharing the Gospel comes from the Lord.
Then Paul makes a seemingly obvious statement: Prayers and petitions for all people and for those in authority, and the goal of living peaceful and quiet lives, please God.
Why?
Because God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Sitting next to Timothy as he read this, listening to him speak the words, I imagine I would be filled with the joy and love Paul and Timothy both felt for the Lord. I can imagine getting wrapped up in the message of the letter. I can picture myself hearing how God wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Then, I can imagine myself saying, “How can I help?”
“How can I help with this work that pleases God? How can I help people come to know the truth?”
Perhaps Timothy would turn to look at me, point his finger at my heart, and say something like, “Know Jesus and share what you know” (John 17:3, Acts 4:20).
Application: Know Jesus better every day.
Food for Thought: Where do we look for the truth?
John 8: 31 – 32: To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 14: 6: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 17: 17: 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
John 18: 37: “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Based on these verses we find truth in Jesus and His word. So when we are looking to Jesus and His word we are looking for truth.
Thank you, Rich!
Great verses!
They are all spot on!
Good meditation this morning, and I agree with Rich’s comment: when we look to Jesus and His word we are looking for truth.
When looking for truth, one has to look for the source. If we look at ourselves, the truth becomes relative and subjective. If we look to the Creator, the truth is immutable and objective.
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Also we look for truth in the evidence of it’s transformation in our life. People call this the “test of time.” I believe this is part of growing in grace and knowledge.
1 John 4:1-3
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.
James 3:17-18
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Thank you, Chris!
I like the way you point us to the center of all truth:
“If we look to the Creator, the truth is immutable and objective.”