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2 Timothy 4:1-5
Throughout the letters of 1st and 2nd Timothy, Paul has been preparing Timothy for the words found in 2 Timothy 4:1–5 (NKJV) as he commands, “1I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3For 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; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
This is a command to preach the word of God as it is, without tailoring it to the likings of man’s desires, but to evangelize the world for Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul has declared in 2 Timothy 3:16–17, “16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Bible teaches us in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word if God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
God’s word is intended to draw us to Him, to learn of His great love for us that saves us from sin, and to know the way to true righteousness which is found only in Jesus. The Prophet Jeremiah declares in Jeremiah 23:5–6, “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called:
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’”
The word of God should not be diluted to make us feel safe in our own ways, but should convict our hearts and lead us to repentance with sincere hearts to the Lord to save us from our sins and create in us a new man – a new man who is freed from sin and connected to God through His One and only Son Jesus. The word of God is living and holds the keys to leading us to a new life as God’s children for all who will believe. John 1:12–13 declares, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” The Apostle John declares in John 20:30–31, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
Dear LORD,
Your word is true, and it is intended to convict us and lead us to realizing and understanding our need to be saved from the sinful nature that attacks us all in this world. Your word leads us to the cross of Christ Jesus whom You sent to do for us that which we are incapable of doing for ourselves – to save us from sin. Please help us to believe, and help us to share the gospel message in the love of Jesus Christ who died so that we can. In Jesus name I pray, amen.