“Mary consoles Eve.” Crayon and pencil by Sr. Grace Remington, OCSO. Copyright 2005, Sisters of the Mississippi Abbey
1 Timothy 2 (NIV)
Instructions on Worship
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
The early church leader Tertullian explained: “We pray for all the emperors, that God may grant them long life, a secure government, a prosperous family, vigorous troops, a faithful senate, an obedient people; that the whole world may be in peace; and that God may grant, both to Caesar and to every man, the accomplishment of their just desires.”
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
So it is both our privilege and our obligation to pray for “all people” — a privilege to approach God’s throne in behalf of others, and an obligation to the sacrifice that Jesus has made for us.
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
In the modern world most people think that any road leads to God, if followed sincerely or with a good heart. The Bible does not support this idea. Jesus said, in John 14:6 : “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
And David Guzik has another perspective: Many people think that God would be unfair or narrow minded to have only one way to salvation; but the thought needs to be turned over. To say that God is unfair for this, one would have to look at Jesus dying on the cross – the spotless Son of God, came from heaven and lived humbly and died in horrific agony, both physical and spiritual – to look at Jesus on the cross and say, “Thanks God; I appreciate the gesture, but that isn’t enough. You’re going to have to do a little more than that, because that is only one way and if You are fair You will make several ways.”
7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
Mother Teresa wore a sari that cost $1 but clothed herself with good deeds done in Jesus’ name.
Being overdressed is inappropriate; being expensively dressed is not a spiritual gift; the best garment is action which reflects the love of Christ.
11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
v.13 – Both Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, and Eve clearly sinned first. Yet, the Bible never blames Eve for the fall of the human race, but always blames Adam (through one man sin entered the world, Romans 5:12).
v.14 – In the original Greek language, the verse reads she will be saved in the childbirth. This has the sense, “Even though women were deceived, and fell into transgression starting with Eve, women can be saved by the Messiah – whom a woman brought into the world.”
The summary is this: Don’t blame women for the fall of the human race; the Bible doesn’t. Instead, thank women for bringing the Messiah to us.
–David Guzik
We must not read this passage as a barrier to all women’s service within the Church, but in the light of its Jewish and its Greek background. And we must look for Paul’s permanent views in the passage where he tells us that the differences are wiped out, and that men and women, slaves and freemen, Jews and Gentiles, are all eligible to serve Christ.
–William Barclay
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Music:
From An Indigo Christmas with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, a Canadian choral group that specializes in Afrocentric music of all styles — Melissa Davis leads “Mary Had a Baby.” You have a heart of stone if you do not enjoy this rendition!! Click HERE and thank the Lord for Mary and all mothers, and for God and all earthly fathers, and for Jesus and all sons and daughters.
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New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
DWELLING in the Word 
What a voice! I loved the facial expressions, too!