Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:1 – 4 short.

Yesterday we were reminded that it is our privilege to pray for all people.  As Paul says, that “is good.”  And it pleases God our Savior that we do so. Good, so what should we pray?  Paul says, the object of our prayers is that “all people will be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  Prayers that concentrate on peace, on prosperity, on safety, on political wisdom and things like that might be well-intentioned but they miss the mark because if people do not know Jesus Christ, the Savior and Lord, peace will be transient at best.  Only those who are cleansed and kept by the atoning work of Jesus through which we are accepted by God, only those understand what peace costs.  We need only turn to the harsh cross of death and see Jesus submit to death there to begin to understand the basis of true peace.

That is why we pray and that is what we pray for. Paul declares that it is such prayer that is good and pleases God our Savior.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. Verses 5 and 6 That is the basis of our praying, what is real prayer.

We might pray that people who do not know Christ should live in peace for other reasons, and that is not a bad idea, but the Gospel of God has revealed beyond doubt that true peace is built on the fact that Jesus Christ is the mediator of peace for all people because he, alone, gave himself as a ransom for all people. 

Christ is our peace.  There is no other way.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  I Timothy 2:1, 2

Today is primary election day here in Pennsylvania. I find Paul’s advice to Timothy very interesting.  In those days popular voting was not known.  So, how could believers influence the affairs of nations?  By praying!!  I fear that not many people in our state today are praying for the opposite party. If they are praying at all it is that their party will receive the most votes.

Paul takes party politics right out of the picture.  I hear him say, loud and clear, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.”  Good.  But how do you pray for Rome, the ruling empire at the time?  Paul does not go into that – he just says, “Pray.”

The object of the Christian prayer is not for Rome, but for peace and contentment in the lives of all people.  The prayer is ultimately for the welfare of the believers to live godly and holy lives.  Paul thus reminds us that empires come and go, but the rule of Christ will span all generations and all nations and tribes. That provides the scope for the prayers of the followers of the Lamb.  A prayer for our governments is good but prayer for the universal reign of Christ over all power is the highest purpose.

Like most everyone else in my neighborhood I hear the clamor of politics, promises that you know cannot be fulfilled.  Would that that energy could be channeled into ways of godliness and holiness.

I recall a statement of Mark Twain that went something like this – “Politics is a promising profession, not a performing art!”  Politics does have its limitations.

So, today and always, my prayer is that believers in Jesus will be free to live godly and holy lives.  That begins with me.

I am not suggesting that we believers withdraw from the political ebb and flow around us but that we set our eyes on that which is eternal.

This year our old white lilac that hangs over our pond has outdone itself!  Its beauty takes away the breath. It is pure, bold, luxuriant and happy!  At least that is the way it appears to me. I love the season of lilacs, now here for our pleasure.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.  I Timothy 1: 17

Now and again Paul sits back, draws a deep breath and bursts forth with a song of praise and adoration that puts not only this letter but his entire life into perspective. So it is here, in his remarkable letter to young Timothy – adoration as it should be!

His attention shifts away from Timothy, from himself and from the fellowships of believers to the bed rock of it all, to Jesus Christ, God Emmanuel, expressed in a hymn of praise.

Who is Jesus?  The King eternal. His reign is constant, loving, merciful and absolutely dependable. He was not made king by us, but he is king!!  And he will be king when all kingdoms fall.  Eternal.

Who is Jesus?  Immortal. He was born in Bethlehem but that was not his beginning, he was God willing to be born a human being to bring us to God. He was, is and ever will be.  There is no reason to fear.

Who is Jesus?  Invisible. He can be seen only by faith. For us who believe he is visible to our spiritual eyes, more real than the morning sun.

Who is Jesus? He is God in the flesh.  There is none like him, ever.  He did it all for us. Life, death, resurrection, ascension!  Once and done, forever, for our salvation.

So?  Our hearts rejoice. We sing with full assurance – “You are the only God, to you we give honor and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.  So be it now and ever more.”

1949!    Anna Ruth graduated from Millersville University with a BS in Education. Here she is at her home beside a lilac bush. She began her teaching career that Fall at Kraybill Mennonite School.  During that time she also prepared for our marriage on the Christmas break, Dec. 24, 1949.  What a year.

Her well-deserved birthday, number 89, is today.  I will be forever grateful that she opened her heart to me and became my solid companion for the many wonderful years until today.  Thank you, Lord!!!

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.  I Timothy 1:15 – 17

I want to think about these words some more. Paul wants there to be no confusion – he is stating the incontrovertible fact.  “Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”  The emphasis must first be on the fact that Jesus is our sin-bearer, there is no other.  Secondly, I think Paul is making the point that Jesus cannot save the “self-righteous” – those who believe that they have no need to be cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ.  No, he saves sinners!!  Sinners only!  He saves those who acknowledge that they are sinners and desperately need cleansing and reinstatement with Jesus Christ.

How true this is!  Paul understood it completely.  He was a law-abiding Pharisee.  Not only was he perfect before the Law, he was so zealous for the Law that he pursued, persecuted and murdered the followers of Jesus. To his amazement, Jesus met him on the road.  It was all in a blaze of light as he retells it. Is that when he realized that he was a sinner – in fact the chief of all sinners in the entire world?  Maybe. Of course his chief sin, if we can call it that, was persecuting the followers of Jesus. He was caught red-handed doing that. In any case at some point, probably very early on in his meeting with Jesus, he realized that he was a horrid sinner.

This self-realization changed his entire life, top to bottom.  Self-righteous people relate to God in one way, abject sinners another. Paul was among the latter. For him, this was the door into a relationship with God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

I believe that Paul never forgot that, even as he was a successful missionary, teacher and preacher.  He was and ever will be a needy sinner.

I need to let myself down on this bed-rock reality – I am a sinner needing daily grace.

Our ornamental Japanese cherry is now opening – a beautiful thing.  An early lady bug beetle seems to enjoy the Spring as well.  This is one of my favorite Spring flowers.  Our tree is getting older – hope it continues to delight us for a few more years.  It has won a place in our hearts.  In a few days the dropped petals will make a carpet of pink beauty.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. I Timothy 1: 15 – 17

My jaw drops as I ponder this sentence – Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  This is not some criminal or thief or what have you writing his life story, but the honored and admired Apostle of Jesus Christ – the great Saul of Tarsus, then Paul the Apostle.  There was never a man committed to obey the Law of God more than Saul, the young Pharisee.

How is it that after he met Jesus Christ he saw himself in a quite different light?  Prior to that meeting he was an honored Pharisee, zealous for the Law, proud of his holy heritage.  Almost in an instant he saw himself as Jesus saw him, a sinner!

My own experience has a flicker of this.  I prided myself in being a bone fide Anabaptist Christian – sent to live as a missionary in Tanzania. I had the answer to everything, so to speak. In the heat of trying to prove all that, I met Jesus anew.  In a moment I lost all superiority and saw myself, amazingly, as a sinner, needing God’s saving grace.  Woe is me, I cried.

Until this day I am amazed by how I viewed myself changed, first as a successful Christian accumulating good works in one moment, and then as an abject sinner in the next.  Meeting Jesus made all the difference.  From wanting to present my good works to God, I cried out for mercy, mercy due a great sinner!   What I had to present to Him was my sin.  That shook me to the core.  I gave him my sin; he gave me his mercy.  How can that be?  As I think of it all over again this morning I am awestricken.

Paul realized that having received such blessed salvation, realizing his sinner-hood, that God used this experience of Paul to encourage others to follow Jesus.  So even his conversion was evangelistic. So may it be for all of us. Of what can we boast?  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. That describes me.

This sun-lit pansy caught my eye this morning. I was awed by its simple beauty.  The blue flower with the yellow center could not be more complementary. I do not believe the flower knew how beautiful it is. Is there not a spiritual lesson there?