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1 Timothy 2:1-8 - Lesson in Prayer - Preachers & Teachers

"For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and in truth." - 1 Timothy 2:7

Paul is declaring here that he had been appointed, or called, to be a preacher.  He was letting the people know that this was God's plan, and not his.  And as a preacher, his mission and purpose in life was to proclaim the Word of God, and Paul did that through preaching, teaching, and writing.  How are we proclaiming God's Word today?  Are we telling anyone about Jesus' sacrifice?  Are we living out a life that honors Him daily?

Paul takes the time in this passage to note that he is a teacher of the Gentiles who were the outcasts of the day.  This small truth transfers over to a greater truth of the universality of the message of the gospel.  It does not discriminate based on how you were raised, who your parents were, your social status, income level, or the color of your skin.  Paul was man enough to say "I'm reaching the unreachable. I'm reaching the poor, the dirty, the outsiders."  Are we as the church doing that today?  Or do we only want to reach within and keep ourselves comfortable?

Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray to you this morning thanking you for the first preachers, teachers, and missionaries that spread your Word.  I thank you for the sacrifices they made in the face of persecution over the years.  And I pray also for those spreading your word today, for preachers, teachers at any level be in Sunday school through seminary, and missionaries who are reaching across the globe to spread your message of hope, love, and salvation.  Father, give them wisdom to discern and share your word, and strength and perseverance in sharing it with others.  And help us to be willing to hear the words they teach, and to support them though prayer, giving, and action.  Help us to be inspired by your word through them to reach out to the lost in our communities to tell them of your great love and to show it through our actions.  Amen.

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