My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ. Colossians 2:2.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 ESV.

Our chapter, 1 Timothy 2, begins with prayer for all men. First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. That 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. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. v. 1-8. The next part is difficult to read and I look to Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, to lead me. Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. v. 9-15. Jesus never corrected people in the clothing they wore. And Adam, not deceived, nevertheless took – and then blamed God for giving him the woman. I couldn’t look away from those two things. It’s good to remember that this letter was written over two thousand years ago to a culture where women did not speak in the synagogues or churches. And in that day women were preserved in children grown because life was impossibly harsh for women alone. It’s also good to remember that Jesus did speak with women and interacted with them daily and it was to the woman at the well, a Samaritan, that Jesus first announced his Messiahship. Jewish teachers of their day would never speak to a woman in public. A heart, male and female, turned to Creator God is precious in His sight and it His love that will light the way for us for understanding His heart for our complete good as we navigate through this world and our lives within it. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love…so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding…in order that they may know the mystery of God…namely…Christ. Can you imagine what it was like to speak with Jesus, the Son, when He lived among us? He spoke with authority about God’s love in ways that before Him they had never heard spoken. He is truth. Unlike all of us, there was not then, and is not now or ever will be, any darkness or sin or confusion in Him. He is the way and the truth and the life and in Him we find hope and our way forward with His help into His truth. As we walk with Him, His love lights the very path we walk and we begin to see and experience all that God’s love is. It is beautiful and healing. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. The Spirit is life and we find our true life together in Him.