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| Preach & Teach the Word of God Cross from Peru Encourage Others |
Meditate.
Consider God’s directive in scripture.
Paul
wrote to Timothy about what God expects of His followers. Teach—patiently correcting
and encouraging people—His people. Preach His word and be prepared. Jesus told
His disciples the same things. For three years, He taught them just what to say
and do. Be prepared. Be ready.
So you, too, must keep watch! For
you don't know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner
knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his
house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of
Man will come when least expected. Matthew
24:42-44 NLT
Jesus has
warned His followers…be ready all the time. Be ready—what does that mean?
Is it more than ajust accepting Jesus as our personal Savior? Does it indicate
that we need to be prayed up…to have every sin confessed? Does it suggest that
we need to be good servants of the Lord…by doing the preaching and teaching
that Paul specified in his letter to Timothy? Remember that right as Jesus ascended
into Heaven, His final instructions were to go and make disciples.
Jesus came and told his disciples,
"I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and
make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands
I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of
the age." Matthew
28:18-20
Were
those instructions to those who follow Him now? Yes. Make disciples—make more
followers. Would that be done by preaching and teaching them—just as Paul
instructed? Would that encourage more people to “be ready” for what comes in
the future? Paul goes on to say that we need to keep a clear mind and be
willing to suffer. Do you recall what Jesus suffered for you on the cross?
Now,
a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and
wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for
teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will
reject the truth and chase after myths. Is that time here? Do you see
people doing that now? I do. People seem to go to churches where they feel
comfortable—hearing what they want to hear—and having a social connection, not true
Biblical teaching. For some people, they don’t seek God or go to church at all
and we see the same thing around the world. Of course, technology reinforces
that because we instantly know or can easily find out just what is happening
anywhere in the world.
What
ministry has God given you to do? Paul says that we are to work at telling
others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. If
we do that, will we be ready?
Prayer
– Lord Jesus, thank you for the encouragement that You wrote through Paul to
Timothy…and all of us. Preach, teach, and be prepared. Please give me wisdom to
know just what to speak and to whom I am to speak, telling them the Good News
about You. I trust You with all that I have and know so that I can be prepared—with
whatever lies ahead. Help me to be like Paul, fighting the good fight and
remaining faithful to the end.
Verses
of Salvation (rescue) ~ The first time I was brought before the judge, no one
came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But
the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good
News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from
certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and
will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and
ever! Amen. 2
Timothy 4:16-18
© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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