Notice in 1 Tim. 2:1 that all of these are to be done on behalf of all people. Think about all the kinds of prayers and supplications that can be made and NOW think about how many can be made for all people! Just consider the first one—How many needs do we come across on a daily basis that we could present before Almighty God? No wonder Paul tells the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing! No wonder Paul wraps up the teaching on the armor of God in Eph. 6 with this instruction—Eph. 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…What an immeasurable responsibility that is placed upon us all by these passages! When I see someone I know well fall into grievous sin or even worse—apostasize from the faith, one of our first thoughts should be: Did I consistently pray for them and make supplication on behalf of them to our Grace-giving God?
The real question is: Can those in the body count on you to persevere in making supplication for them—taking their needs before our powerful and gracious God? Oftentimes, many people wonder how they might serve others—“I don’t really feel like I can do anything. There really aren’t any programs to sign up for.” Well, praying for one another is a great place to start. And the size of our body makes it very easy to know the needs of almost everyone. An even greater advantage to know what to pray for comes from participating the home bible study setting as we set aside time to share and pray for one another’s needs. And it doesn’t end on that night—we remember those needs or we write them down and pray for them throughout the week and then look forward to seeing how God is working as we talk with the people we have been praying for. This is one of the joys of body life and represents what is pleasing to God (1 Tim. 2:3).