Another reading for meditation...

This one from Paul's first letter to Timothy:

Beloved:
First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,
petitions and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
for kings and for all authority,
that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life
in all devotion and dignity.

This is good and pleasing to God our savior,
who wills everyone to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God.

There is also one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself as ransom for all.

This was the testimony at the proper time.

For this I was appointed preacher and Apostle
(I am speaking the truth, I am not lying),
teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,
lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

Again the text is the Revised New American Bible. A number of observations. First, note God's singularity and universality, and the universality of his call ("wills everyone to be saved"). Second, note this clip begins and ends with an exhortation to pray.

So I've decided to remember these two themes as I use my blog. First, the truth we seek is universal; it is not the truth for one group, but for all. In other words, I must be careful not to simply preach to the choir. Second, pray always. Never come to the blog pretending to teach, unless you have first learned through study and prayer.

Pray that I and all who seek the truth keep these in mind.