In 1 Timothy 2.1-8, Paul addresses the men of the church. He calls them to prayer—all kinds of prayer for all kinds of people at all times. Prayer, in other words, to change the world. Our excerpt for today from If Men Will Pray is found on pages 11 and 12:
“Any Christian man who doesn’t want to change the world is likely not a Christian at all.
“No man who is truly a Christian can ponder the misery, suffering, degradation, injustice, corruption, and evil of our world and not know the heart of Christ pounding in his chest. Every true Christian man wants to change the world, wants to turn his world rightside-up for Jesus Christ.
“There. That’s settled.
“Now, where do we begin?
“[Paul writes,] ‘First of all…” You know what follows: men must pray. That the focus is on men is clear from verses 8 and 9. This is the only occurrence of this phrase, ‘first of all’, in the entire New Testament. The meaning could not be clearer: If men want to change the world, want to see the world come into the light and glory of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, want to leave a better world for their grandchildren, then, first of all, they have to pray.”
For reflection or discussion
1. What does it mean to have prayer “first of all” in your life?
2. How can men help one another in having prayer “first of all” in their lives?
Look, prayer is serious business. We all need to improve in this matter so that it truly becomes “first of all” in every aspect of our lives. And we can help one another in this. You can help by sending today’s podcast to a friend, then getting together to discuss it. Let’s make the commitment to have prayer the “first of all” activity of all our lives. You can order copies of If Men Will Pray from The Ailbe Bookstore.
T. M. Moore
