Good morning…

Driving somewhere in the middle of Alabama, I was singing songs to the company of the Christian radio station. To my amazement, the Scripture verses which had greeted me in the morning came through my car speaker to bookend my night.

Before the rising of the sun, God had drawn me to this unfamiliar-to-me passage during my time of prayerful pondering. The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live (1 Timothy 2:1-3, MSG).

After the sun had set on Interstate 20, the radio host read aloud another translation of the very same Bible verses. I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior…

The radio announcer continued further into the passage. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time (1 Timothy 2:1-6, NLT).

Now is just the right time for God to repeat for the world the central message of the Holy Bible. Our caring Creator wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

1) There is one God.
2) There is one Mediator, Jesus Christ, who can reconcile God and our hurting humanity.
3) Jesus gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.
4) Now pray for all people, for everyone you know.
5) Ask God to help, to intercede on their behalf, and thank God for each and every person.
6) Especially lift prayers for those in authority, asking the LORD to help governments to rule well, to rule in a way that is good and pleases God.
7) In the complete freedom purchased by Christ, live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity, living simply, in humble contemplation.

What beautiful bookends to an ordinary day.

…Sue…