August 16
Be Instant in Season and out of Season
2 Timothy 4:2-4

  1. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
  2. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
  3. and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Verse 2 in the Amplified Bible says:

  1. Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency (stand by, be at hand and ready, whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable, whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it be welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong) and convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.

After all Paul has said about standing and holding fast to the Truth, now he encourages Timothy to do that which he’s been called to do—preach the Word! He encourages him to stay ready and take opportunity now to preach the Word (whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable), because the time is coming when people will not listen to and accept sound doctrine.  They will turn away from the Truth and provide for themselves teachers who will tell them what they want to hear.

Paul says Timothy is to convince, correct, warn and encourage people by the Word of God.  The Word of God is that which all of us are to preach and proclaim.  As situations arise in our lives we are to abide by the Word of God and the principals of the Word.

If someone asks for advice about something we should be thinking, "What does the Word of God have to say about that?"  If we are brought into a discussion about what’s right or wrong or what our opinion is about something, we should be thinking, "What does the Word of God say about this?"

Preach the Word and be ready. In season and out of season!

 

Confession:

I will proclaim the Word of God with my life.  I will be ready whether the opportunity seems favorable or not.  I will always be ready to abide by and proclaim what the Word of God has to say in every situation.

 

 

Obedience is a tree of life!