"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men."
1 Timothy 2:1
Part 2
Yesterday we learned about:
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all,”
“Supplications,”
“Prayers,”
“Intercessions,”
Today let’s see:
“And giving of thanks,”
As we pray, we are to be giving grateful praise to our God for other people. Believers are to be a people of gratitude. We are to be thankful to God for those He has brought into our lives. He knows best, and He knows our need, and He understands the kinds of people we need in our lives to help shape us into the men and women He desires for each of us, His children, to become.
“Be made for all men;”
And notice that our grateful praises need to be made for “all men.” With this statement I instantly find my heart divided between the people I like, the ones who are good to me; and those I don’t really care for because they don’t see things my way and they usually cause me some pain and irritation. It is so easy to thank God for the friendly and kind people in my life. But it’s more of a chore to give thanks for the human sandpaper in my life. Peter clearly understood the principle when he said that we cannot limit our service just to the “good and gentle” masters. “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward (crooked, perverse),” (1 Peter 2:18).
As you thank the Lord today, for the people He has put into your life, don’t forget to thank Him for the ones who just always seem to give you a hard time, who “never” seem to agree with you, and “always” make life tense for you—He has a purpose for them in your life too.
Be thankful, for the people God puts into your life.