Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

I Timothy 2:8

Timothy strikes a little different note here, designating that he is writing to the believing men, not the women, which comes later.  I usually think of men, young are older, as given to work and ministry.  I hang on to that but am arrested, in a way, by Timothy’s admonition for them to pray, using their hands, not to fashion tools, etc., but to pray!   Now, that is new!

They are to pray with lifted holy hands, cleansed by the Blood of Jesus, in prayer to God.  Timothy insists that they do so without any anger toward anyone or toward themselves. Just praying with a pure heart.  Without “disputing.”  That is insightful because there is so much judging of others in the brotherhood, or tendency to do so is not with unified hands but with malice and disputation.

Oh, Lord, please count us among those who love you dearly and who strengthen one another in the way of your peace!