A Ransom For!

December 25th, 2022

Why should you and I pray for the salvation of all men and give thanks for every

individual and every authority? Paul tells Timothy that we should do so in order

that we should “lead a quiet and peaceable life” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). After all, God

wants every man to be saved and come to understand the truth, the truth that sets all

men free from themselves and the truth that Jesus Christ is our only mediator. He

and he alone made provision by giving himself as a ransom for each of us because

we were and are incapable of rescuing ourselves from sin and eternal death. Faith

and truth are essential to our victory over both death and sin. No man can overcome

these without Christ Jesus as Lord of his life and director of his destiny. So, prayer

and praying “lifting up holy hands” (1 Timothy 2:8) is critical, but it must be

sincere, without wrath and doubting. Real Christians are good workers, quiet,

humble, and not self-directed. They listen to the word of God and are not deluded or

persuaded by Satan to become irresponsible or selfish. Godly men and women yield

to other godly persons and submit to the Spirit of Christ. Where do you stand? Are

you praying for your enemies? Are you willing to be a ransom for any or all? It will

get easier with practice and you will be better having begun to practice the life of

Christ – “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. We know it is the

holy thing to do and we understand why our Lord gave the commandment to care

for the “household of faith”. Since Jesus died for the church, his bride, it may be

understood that he valued her. We should do the same and prove it by behaving

responsibly, standing our match, never deserting our post, and being an imitator of

the good shepherd. There are more than enough wolves, some in sheep’s clothing,

and others who run when they see the wolves. What is happening within and

outside of the church demands that prayer be our posture along with faith, truth, and

love. So much is needed but faithfulness does not allow us to stop or shirk our

commitment to our God’s calling. He put each of us in the body where he wanted us

in order to do what he wanted us to do. Are you there? Are you willing to pay the

price to accomplish the salvation of that one for whom our Lord died?

Kenneth E. Morrison