Daily Lesson for February 14, 2017

Today's Daily Lesson comes from 1 Timothy chapter 2 verses 1 through 8:

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.

A Christians we have no choice but to pray for all people, including our own governing officials.  We are compelled to give supplication and even to offer thanksgiving on their behalf. It does not matter their political affiliation, their policies, or even their character. In fact, in today's Lesson Paul seems to infer that supplication and thanksgiving have to be made for them because they themselves are not righteous or Godly enough in their own persons to offer these things on their own behalf.

And if you understand that then you begin to understand the meaning of the death of Christ, who died for the unrighteous and the ungodly, giving himself "as a ransom for ALL."

"All" is a pretty darn inclusive word. It includes prostitutes and tax collectors and drunkards and lots of other sinners including even those in high positions whose policies we may disagree with vehemently and whose personhood we may find repugnant. Jesus died for them and didn't ask our opinion in the matter, only telling us that if we were going to be with HIM then we were going to need to be for THEM.

This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  And as Paul said elsewhere, it saves us, "yet so as through fire".

Purify us O Holy One, and burn off all our imperfections so that only love shall remain.