Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made
for all men,..” (1 Tim. 2:1)
In this passage the apostle Paul reveals to us that
the prayers of Christians are to include an appeal to
God on behalf of “all men.” Not just for your family
and friends, mind you, but also for others – even for
the leaders of our nation, as Paul tells us to pray “for
kings and all who are in authority that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
reverence” (v. 2). Did you know that Jesus also
instructs us to pray for our enemies as well (Matt. 5:
43-48)?
But what is the purpose of praying for all men? Paul
says, “this is good and acceptable in the sight of
God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:
3-4). This is the main point. Though Christ died for
the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2), the whole world will not
be saved (Matt. 7:13-14). Only those who obey His
will can be saved (Heb. 5:9). Thus (as the hymn
says) “I Am Praying For You.”