Read In Touch Daily Devotional By Charles Stanley – 3 December 2022. As you study today’s devotional, remember this; “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)
TOPIC: Lights in a Dark World
SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
In 1 Timothy 2, the apostle Paul gives us some guidelines for living in a way that will attract others to Jesus. For one thing, praying for all people—including our governing authorities—can lead to “a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” Recognizing this can make people want to “come to the knowledge of the truth” and be saved according to God’s desire (1 Tim. 2:2-4).
There is no righteousness or goodness in the fallen human heart that makes us worthy of salvation in God’s eyes. Nevertheless, He has chosen to love and save us as a display of “the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7). Fallen angels can never receive forgiveness, but redeemed humanity will be eternal trophies of God’s grace in the ages to come.
When we live with righteousness and respect, we become like lights in this dark, sinful world. In that way, we point others to the Lord Jesus Christ so they too can receive God’s salvation and likewise give Him glory forever. So let’s be faithful in making “requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving … in behalf of all people” because this is good and acceptable to God (1 Tim. 2:1, 3).
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Corinthians 5-8
REFLECT: Let’s be faithful to pray for the salvation of leaders and others living in darkness
Thank you for reading In Touch Daily Devotional By Charles Stanley – 3 December 2022. Encourage someone today by sharing this Gospel
