Give me one good reason...or three

As Christians- and especially as Christian leaders- we know well that it is important to pray. But perhaps it’s been a while since you’ve heard some good reasons why it’s important. Well, you’re in luck. Because, in 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Paul gives us three good, related reasons why the church should pray.

1.    We should pray so “…that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

In the context, Paul is referring to praying for all kinds of people, particularly government officials and civil leaders. We should pray for such people, he says, because they have the potential to make our lives as Christians not so “peaceful and quiet” and can make it difficult to live “godly and dignified” in the world. In other words, we should pray for those in authority because our ability to live out our Christian faith in our culture without hindrance depends on it.

2.    We should pray because it “is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Praying for all people Paul calls “good” and “pleasing” to God. The reason for this is that God himself has a concern for all people. In the context, this refers to “all kinds of people” (including those in authority). When we pray in this way, then, we demonstrate that our hearts are aligned with God’s and that we share his priorities. This brings delight to God's soul.

3.    We should pray because “there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus….”

Finally, we should pray because our God alone is the hope of all peoples. When we are lacking in prayer, we are essentially ignoring the fact that salvation is found in Christ alone and that the blessing of God comes only through him. We're telling the world to look elsewhere. When, however, we do pray, we are testifying that Jesus is the only way.

Seeking God with you,

aaron

 

Life Group = War

It may come as a surprise to us, but Christian leaders are called to be fighters. That is what we may conclude from Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 1:18, “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.” In a world of timid and tepid Christianity, this is a word that is sorely needed.

But what is Paul exactly saying? Are we to be violent and cruel, merciless as a soldier on the battlefield? Are we to seek the destruction of those that oppose us, exercising no compassion as we pursue our objective? Obviously not! Rather, the metaphor of waging war teaches us something of the dedication and discipline we are to have as followers of Christ and as leaders in the church.

Ours is no simple task: we have been charged to spread the Gospel to the four corners of the globe and to make disciples of every nation. This mission is so vast and so significant that nothing less than total dedication to it will suffice, no matter what level of the task we engage on. As Paul tells Timothy elsewhere, “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” As Christian leaders, the Lord Jesus Christ himself has enlisted us to fight for his cause- nothing ought to distract us from this appointment.

However, If you are like me, plenty of things distract you. The ceaseless pursuit of entertainment and recreation in our generation wars against us even as we seek to wage the good warfare. So, too, the allure of materialism hinders us from being fully engaged in the battle that is the Christian mission. Even the best of things can harass us: work, friendships, and family can take an idolatrous position in our souls as we serve them before and instead of the Lord.

So how do we combat these distractions and hindrances? Paul tells Timothy one strategy: “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.” What is Paul saying here? In sum, he is telling Timothy to reflect upon the way in which he was officially called to his role as a leader by the church (this is what he means by “the prophecies”), and to see that call as motivation to excel in ministry. In other words, Paul is saying, “Timothy! This is what you’ve been appointed to! This is what you're gifted for! The whole church has publicly recognized your calling to ministry! Now- pursue it with all you’ve got- let nothing stand in your way!”

This truth is significant, not just to Timothy, but to us as well. When we, like Timothy, understand that God has appointed us to something (for example, to Life Group leadership), and this appointment has been recognized, confirmed, and supported by the church-at-large, it gives us great incentive to be zealously faithful to our task.

So, let me encourage you: spend some time soon reflecting on your call to Life Group leadership. Reflect on the fact that you’ve been enlisted to fight in the army of the Lord of Hosts and have been chosen by the church to lead. And then, pursue your ministry with all you’ve got!

Fighting with you,

aaron

Thinking About Ministry

1 Timothy 1:12–17 (ESV)

¹²I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,

¹³though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

¹⁴and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

¹⁶But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

¹⁷To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

When Paul thought about his ministry, what came to his mind? According to this passage, at least five things filled his mind and should fill ours too:

1.     Christ’s Power (verse 12)

Read Paul thoroughly and you’ll discover one thing: he knew where his power for ministry came from. For him, Christ was the one “who has given me strength.” As Life Group leaders, we too must constantly find the Lord as our might for ministry.

2.     Christ’s Appointment (verse 12)

No true ministry leader is a ministry leader simply because he or she decided to become one. Rather, a true ministry leader is one that Christ has appointed to the task. Paul held onto this truth tightly, and it gave him courage and conviction.

3.     Christ’s Provision (verses 13-14)

Paul never separated his ministry from the provision of mercy and grace that Christ had poured out on him in salvation. And we shouldn’t either. Instead, we should always seek to lead out of a heart that is assured by, satisfied with, and resting in our salvation.

4.     Christ’s Appearing (verse 15)

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Simple. Concise. Profound beyond all imagination or grasp of reason. This is the brilliant Gospel: bright as the sun, the center of our faith and the axis of our ministry. Paul never left it behind.

5.     Christ’s Purpose (verse 16)

Why had Paul, the chief of sinners, received mercy? Why had Christ been so gracious toward him? The Lord had indeed had a purpose: Paul was to be an example, for the entire world to see, of Christ’s great love and grace. In other words, a ministry leader is a picture of how the Lord treats those who turn to him. When people see us, they should see a portrait of God’s lovingkindness.