Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 96

April 6;    2 Timothy 4:2;    200/260(II);    ‘Preach the Word’

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

Timothy is a pastor and Paul admonishes him to preach the Word.  That is what pastors do.  When the church is doing well and when there are challenges to deal with in the church. In Mark 16:15, the Lord Jesus commands every Christian to preach the Word.  It may be as a children’s teacher or a youth leader.  It may be in a nursing home or a Bible study.  It may be sharing the Word with someone, one on one.  Just as Paul, really the Holy Spirit through Paul, tells Timothy to preach the Word whether the time is favorable or not, the Lord is telling each of us the same thing.  Children and youth can listen or be unruly, give them the Word.  Elderly people can be alert or asleep, give them the Word.  People at your Bible study can be interested or have their attention diverted to something else, give them the Word.  It may be easy to share the Word with the person you are talking to or you may feel intimidated or they really aren’t interested, give them the Word.  God’s Word is so vital and will change the lives of whoever you are sharing with.  The unfavorable times won’t go on forever.  Notice that Paul is exhorting Timothy and us that the Word of God corrects and rebukes.  The Lord does not use the Word to condemn you.  The Lord uses the Word to convict and correct us because He loves us and wants the very best for us.  God’s Word also encourages us.  When we preach to others how much the Lord loves them, what He has done for them through Jesus and the abundant life He has prepared for them, the scriptures reveal a kind, wonderful, merciful God.  How important it is to preach the Word.