God's Desire from 1 Tim. 2:4

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03/06/2002

My Worship Time                                                                Focus:  God’s desire

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                               Reference:  1Timothy 2:4

 

          Message of the verse:  First thing that I want to mention is that this is a very difficult verse to understand because it is one of those verses that deals with the doctrine of election and also the free will of man.  They are both taught in Scripture.  The verse says, “-who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  God is the One with the desire for this to happen.  Dr. John Macarthur says in his note on this verse that the word “desire” “is not that which normally expresses God’s will of desire.” He goes on to talk about the difference of God’s desire and His eternal saving purpose.  It may be God’s desire that all men be saved but it is not how God has set up the plan of salvation.  The word desire also has the meaning that, (in this case God) may desire it but will not make it happen.  There is a word used for desire that God will make it happen.

          Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I want to say that mere man cannot totally understand all that is involved here about this subject.  Dr. David Jeremiah happened to be speaking about this subject this morning on his radio show and read Deu. 29:29 to help explain how best to understand how we should think about this subject.  The verse says, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever that we may do all the words of this law.”  Some things I will not understand this side of heaven but one thing I do understand and that is that I am to continue to pray for the lost people of this world because God says to pray and I can understand that command.

The Word of God was indeed a challenge to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to continue to learn more about this subject, not just to be smarter about it but to bring honor to God over it.  It is part of His Word and we as believers are told to study the Word each day.

 

Memory verse for the week:  1John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.