Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. – 1 Timothy 2:4
Mealybugs – they’re tiny little things that can inflict much damage to healthy trees. Infestation can literally turn beautiful, green-leaf-filled shrubbery into dead, yellowy, curled-leaf vegetation. If you catch their presence soon enough, several avenues of treatment can be effective in saving the plant.
Think now of someone who looks to be healthy, but who may really be sick physically, mentally or spiritually. The COVID-19 virus has brought great illness, if not death, into some families. Maybe the mealybug of false information has given others a skewed view of life, or worse, a hatred for people in authority. Many folks have lost confidence, both in the wisdom of the leaders in charge, as well as the possibility for recovery from the damage that has been done to the once-healthy economy of the nation. Countless others have just lost hope.
Know that God the Father desires ALL people to be saved – saved from fear that comes with this ugly virus, saved from confusion generated by misinformation, and saved from the ravages of a sin-filled life. He is trustworthy and merciful, but He asks something of you. Found in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, God’s Word urges “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
Be aware of those around you who need help. Give thanks for those leaders who are striving to do right for this nation. Prayer is the conduit for healing a nation sick physically, but starving for truth and wisdom in its leaders. Pray – and be serious about it!
Today’s Verse: 1 Timothy 2:4
who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Matthew 6:5-8, 25-34
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
