"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” (v.2)
In today’s text Paul charged Timothy to “Preach the Word.” Paul’s emphasis on the word of God has been constant. As a pastor, Timothy was not required to merely know the word or like the word or approve of the word; he was required to preach the word. The word of God must be preached by Timothy; it was to be the content of his message.
The command to, "Be ready in season and out of season," tells us when the pastor should be ready to preach the word. He should be ready always. He should preach it when it is easy and preach it when it is hard. He should preach it when the fruit is evident and preach it when the fruit seems invisible.
There's a story about a Church of England clergyman who was gloriously saved. When Jesus changed his life he started preaching the gospel to his whole parish and they all got saved. Then he started preaching in neighboring parishes, and the clergymen of those parishes were offended. They asked the bishop to make the man stop. When the bishop confronted him he said, “I hear you are always preaching and you don’t seem to be doing anything else.” The changed man answered, “Well bishop, I only preach during two seasons of the year.” The bishop said, “I’m glad to know that; what seasons are they?” He replied, “In season and out of season!
Our text however is not addressed only to preachers. The word "preach" means “to make it known.” God’s people can do this over a cup of coffee. We can make known the good news of what God has done for us wherever, whenever, and to anyone who is open to listening. Therefore, let’s not be shy to “make known” what God has done for us! Share your story, then share the gospel – “make it known.”
The Truth: “God so demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
