# 34 2019 Devotion, 1 Tim.2:3-5. Worship! Read all of chapter 2. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
1 Timothy 1:3-5 “3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”
When Paul says “this is good” he is referring to what he says before it: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Paul encourages us to intercede and pray for all people, and for leaders and for those in authority. The political environment of today has prevented us from praying for our leaders, we use one or another excuse not to pray, but read Rom. 13 to put things back in perspective. The lack of our prayers only adds to the chaotic political situation we are facing today.
Secondly, Paul talks about worship: “Therefore (pointing back to vs 3-5) I want men everywhere to pray” and put aside disputes and anger. “I also want the women to dress modestly” and do “good deeds appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” If anger, disputes and modesty was a problem then it certainly is a problem today. Now people do what they want and wear what they want but Paul says no, everything you do and wear sends a message. Worship is a daily activity, 24/7.
Thirdly, Paul is speaking about male headship which has unique responsibility. Paul talks about the fall in this passage. The fact is that Adam was responsible, God addressed him first, but Adam passed the buck, “it is the woman you gave me”. God addresses Eve, she passed the buck to Satan. God addresses Satan: God cursed him and said: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.” This is what we call the “Mother Promise” the promise of salvation in Christ (Gen.3:15). This promise is why Paul says: “women will be saved through childbearing if they continue in faith and love.”
Paul does talk about male headship but this is not always understood: Paul had female coworkers, and there were female deacons in the early church. Paul is not restricting women, but what he is saying is what we are experiencing now; mutual submission and mutual respect which is lacking today. Our culture is moving to a female centric orientation. How are people depicted in advertisements, movies and in social media? Men are depicted as bumbling idiots, and as only sperm donors, while women are depicted as strong and reliable. But this is not how things are supposed to be: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” The husband must love his wife and the wife must respect her husband. Read Eph.5:21-33 for God’s standard on human relationships. Praise be to God!
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