2 Timothy 4: 1-5
In the presence of God and of Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their aching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
A Thought
God has given all ministers of the gospel his inspired word to preach as it is written–not adding to it and not taking away from it. We are all called to be ministers of the love, grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ from the time we first believe. We are to study the Bible to enable us to give an answer as to why and what we believe. When we accept Christ as our savior, we receive forgiveness and also God the Holy Spirit in whom we can trust to give us the right word to speak to be God’s witness to others. A time will come when ministers will become more concerned about telling people what they want to hear rather than what God’s word states, which is the truth. Never give up, stay true to what God has spoken through his holy Scriptures to enable each of us to endure hardship, to perform all the duties he has placed before us.
Our Prayer
Father we pray for all of your ministers of the gospel that they will not be deceived by any who does not want to believe your truth. Help them to be prepared to preach the whole truth in love, to correct, to rebuke, and to encourage with great patience and careful instruction even when they have to endure hardships for the sake of the truth. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
