Thursday, July 14, 2011

Daily Butter 7/12: Do Your Part

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/12/11):
Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.  (1 Timothy 2:8 HCSB)
The focus in today's Our Daily Bread was on the reaction of a younger believer to the call to modesty in verse nine. While I agree with that reminder, a specific instruction to women of faith is not for me. This reminder that everywhere men are to pray (not just "men from everywhere" as the King James says "that men pray every where") and not just a covert incognito prayer, but every translation I've seen says with the lifting of hands. I'm sure Paul was not advocating those prayers intended to wow a human audience which Christ taught were futile (Matthew 6:5). My understanding is that Paul was writing this letter to Timothy specifically for instructions for the organization of the local church, so I'm not recommending taking your hands off the steering wheel to lift them as you pray either. When called on to pray in a gathering of believers, men of faith should do so without a struggle.

Andy Jentes

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