October 25
Jer 48:1-49:22 | PS 95:1-96:13 | Prov 26:9-12 | 2 Tim 4:1-22
What is our responsibility as Christians? At times it can seem so daunting considering the hostility we know that we will encounter when presenting the Gospel. The tendency is to try to be creative, to adjust considering who it is we might be talking to. We read Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:1-5, “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” Yes, they will not want to hear what it is that you have to say, but it is up to us not to mince words and soften God’s message.
This is what Paul did throughout his ministry. We read the words of Paul as his life comes to an end, and he can write in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul, who was at one point, like ISIS, a Christian killer, was given the charge to preach God’s word to the Gentiles. He was faithful to the end. His audiences were hostile. He was beaten, stoned, whipped, mocked, etc. We, foolishly believe that our audiences or circumstances are somehow different. Paul never softened the Word, neither should we. Paul never gave up on anyone, neither should we. Paul cared more for the Kingdom, as a faithful ambassador, than his situation on earth, so should we.
There will be times that we will stand all alone for the truth, as we read in 2 Timothy 4:16-18, “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” Our task is difficult but our commission is clear, and we will never truly be alone, as Jesus assured each of us in Matthew 28:20, “… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” So, go!
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: