August 13, 2026 | Be Connected
God-honoring Worship
Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:8-10(NIV)
8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
Devotional
Today’s passage has two distinct messages with one directed towards men and the other for women. Paul advises men to come to prayer free of anger against others and for women to dress modestly and be of high character. While I believe that each piece of advice would benefit both sexes, I suspect that offering my thoughts on women’s fashions might have its shortcomings. On that latter front, I’ll merely suggest that, when in doubt, modesty is best.
As a kid, I had a Sunday School teacher named Mrs. Boring who told us that before we take communion each time, we should ask forgiveness from everyone we’ve wronged. She would quote Matthew 5:23-24 in which Jesus says, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift.” I believe that in verse 8 of today’s passage, Paul is making a similar suggestion. Before entering into prayer, we should both extend forgiveness to others and seek it from those in our own circles.
When we fail to reconcile and ask forgiveness, we often unnecessarily carry a burden. Frequently the burden is one sided. I’m amazed at the number of times in my life where I have watched someone hold a grudge against another for many years. Fast forward and talk to the other person, and they have no knowledge or recollection of why the person holds anger towards them. Meanwhile, the person with the grudge has used a great deal of energy holding onto whatever the original issue was.
I think in this verse Paul is cautioning us that prayer is difficult when we come to God with anger in our hearts. Making amends with others allows us to talk with and listen to God without distraction. Let go and let God.
Is there someone in your life from whom you need forgiveness? Is there someone you need to forgive?
