Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Timothy 2
Set – 2 Kings 4; 1 Timothy 2
Go! – 2 Kings 4-5; Psalms 83; 1 Timothy 2

1 Timothy 2
¹ So, first and foremost, I urge God’s people to pray. They should make their requests, petitions, and thanksgivings on behalf of all humanity. ² Teach them to pray for kings (or anyone in high places for that matter) so that we can lead quiet, peaceful lives—reverent, godly, and holy— ³ all of which is good and acceptable before the eyes of God our Savior ⁴ who desires for everyone to be saved and know the truth. ⁵ Because

There is one God and one Mediator between God and us—
the man Jesus, God’s Anointed,
⁶ Who gave His life as a ransom for all
so that we might have freedom.
The testimony was given to me at just the right time. ⁷ This is exactly what I was appointed to do—tell everyone His story—as a herald, an emissary, a teacher of the outsiders in faith and the truth. (Listen, I promise it’s all true. I’m not lying.)

⁸ So here’s what you tell them; here’s what I want to see: Men, pray wherever you are. Reach your holy hands to heaven—without rage or conflict—completely open. ⁹ Women, the same goes for you: dress properly, modestly, and appropriately. Don’t get carried away in grooming your hair or seek beauty in glittering gold, pearls, or expensive clothes. ¹⁰ Instead, as is fitting, let good works decorate your true beauty and show that you are a woman who claims reverence for God. ¹¹ It’s best if a woman learns quietly and orderly in complete submission.

¹² Now, Timothy, it’s not my habit to allow women to teach in a way that wrenches authority from a man. As I said, it’s best if a woman learns quietly and orderly. ¹³ This is because Adam was formed first by God, then Eve. ¹⁴ Plus, it wasn’t Adam who was tricked; it was she—the woman was the one who was fooled and disobeyed God’s command first. ¹⁵ Still, God, in His faithfulness, will deliver her through childbearing as long as she remains in faith and love and holiness with self-restraint.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The debate still goes on today, what place should women hold in My church? For Me, it’s an easy answer. I created both men and women. I made Adam from the dust of the earth. I made all other living creatures from that same creative dust…except for woman. When I created woman, I put Adam to sleep, took flesh and bone from his side and created woman from it.

I didn’t use flesh from Adam’s feet nor did I use flesh from his head, but from Adam’s side. Symbolically, I wanted men and women to understand neither is greater or lesser than the other. Men have muscular strength to enable them to provide for a family. Women have the ability to nurture and care for a family bringing love and emotional stability to the home.

Do you want to know what I think of women? Just watch the way Jesus treated them as He walked among you. He spoke with the woman at the well. He sat in Lazarus’ home and allowed Mary to sit and listen to His teaching. He encouraged women to minister to others around Him and blessed them for their acts of service.

Men and women stand side by side in importance in My eyes. Does that mean equal? Not if equal means the same. I made men and women different with different gifts, different physical and psychological frameworks. I made men and women with unique characteristics because I want each to be interdependent upon the other.

Some use Paul’s words to say women have no place speaking in the church. But listen to Paul’s words again. That isn’t what he said. Paul instructs Timothy to not allow women to teach in a way that wrenches authority from men. That’s part of the problem with society today. One gender thinks it must lord over the other. That has never been My intent and never will be. I created both men and women and both are necessary for the maturing of My highest creation.

Men and women need each other. Yes, there are some that I direct to remain celibate throughout their lives and instead devote their lives solely to Me, but those individuals are few and far between. As Paul reminds you in his letters, few can accept that life. What I want for most is to find a partner for life and recognize the success that comes through your relationship together.

Don’t let the world fool you into thinking anything different than what I lay out in My word. I have a place, an important place for men and women in My kingdom.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
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