"PREACH THE WORD!"

2 Timothy 4:1-5            (ESV)
"1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2 "PREACH THE WORD"; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having "itching ears" they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."


Might there be any greater example that the Holy Bible is the Word of GOD than the above passage?  The practice of desiring to hear those who agree with one perspective or another has become so polarizing that nothing is being done for good.  Even my own stance on a number of issues has changed over the years, but that doesn't mean my position was, or is, the correct one.  There is ONE standard that all must be judged against, and that is the pure, unadulterated TRUTH of the WORD!

No one relishes in the fact that they may have held an incorrect position on a matter.  But we are all human and make mistakes.  The best way to assure we are correct in our views is to "PREACH THE WORD"!  The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to take his direction and instruction from teaching the WORD.  At anytime ,Paul rightfully said, the WORD of GOD was the measuring stick we should ALL adhere to.

It is becoming even more commonplace for people to listen to speakers who say what is soothing and comfortable to their hearing.  The people do not want to hear reproof and rebuke, rather about love and agreement.  It is far easier to speak about how much good people are spreading, than to compare us to the standard of JESUS CHRIST.  When I am compared to JESUS, I must look for some other measuring stick, as I do not measure up.  MERCY and GRACE must become part of my life!

When we "PREACH THE WORD" the standard never changes.  Some may avoid certain subjects or issues, but that doesn't mean that GOD has avoided them.  Our "itchy ears" may not hear what GOD is saying to us, but if the men of GOD "PREACH THE WORD" our excuses will matter on Judgement day.