“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 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;”
What do you hear when you read this passage? If you are a little forward, as I tend to be, this can be dangerous. Or, it can be encouraging.
Paul is telling Tim to preach the word. I love the illustration here though… about in and out of season.
What he is saying, or at least what I am hearing is this… Preach the word, if the opportunity presents itself (in season) and even if it doesn’t (out of season). Reprove, rebuke, exhort patiently (all longsuffering) and teaching (doctrine). Do it now because… there will come a time when they won’t listen.
We lose the luxury of saying, “It didn’t seem like a good time to share,” or “What if they get mad when I tell them what the bible says about…” when we read this passage correctly.
Paul is giving us a pep talk. He is saying we have to preach… even when we don’t want to.
Time is short. Eternity, immeasurable.
Tell someone what you have learned… and why you had to.
SDG
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