2 Timothy 4: Will You Preach The Word?
Verse of the Day: (V2) “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
1. Word (V1-4)
V1 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;”
Apostle Paul commanded his successor, Timothy, to preach all the time, even times when he did not feel like preaching God’s holy Word. Indeed, the Christian life is all about God and God alone, and nothing about us. Let us always focus on God, and continue to love and share God’s Word, even at times when we are discouraged, and even disappointed with life. Paul also warned Timothy never to please man when preaching God’s Word, but to reprove and rebuke sins that man shall repent of their sins and turn to the holy God.
V3 “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;”
2. Work (V5-7)
V5 “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
Paul encouraged Timothy to continue to do the work of preaching God’s Word despite the persecution from the unbelieving Romans who were in control of the regions at that time. In fact, 2 Timothy was the last letter and the last words of Paul before he was beheaded by the Romans for preaching God’s Word. This was why Paul could boldly declared that he had fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith in Christ.
V7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
3. World (V8-22)
V8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
While many, like Demas, had left the faith because of persecution from the Romans as well as the pleasures of this world, Paul kept his faith to the very end. Let us be like Paul that we keep our faith to the very end, and thereby receive God’s reward - the crown of righteousness - when we eventually meet our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ face to face!
V10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to share Your holy Word in good as well as bad times.
