“BE READY!”

 2 Timothy 4:1-4                                         (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.”

The Apostle Paul was nearing the end of his life (2 Timothy 4:6) and he wanted to make his point to Timothy VERY CLEAR that we must always “BE READY” to PREACH THE WORD, whether IN SEASON or OUT OF SEASON!  The phrase ‘I CHARGE YOU’ used in the English Standard Version can mean to strongly request or order something to be done.  To PREACH THE WORD meant to PREACH TRUTH, to disseminate the principles of CHRIST whatever situation we find ourselves in.  

“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, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” could actually say FOR THE TIME IS COMING, AND IS NOW HERE!  Society seems to have become so enamored with GAINING KNOWLEDGE that we ignore the ONE WHO gives THE KNOWLEDGE?  1 Corinthians 8:1-3 tells us that this “knowledge” puffs up!  The knowledge received from GOD brings humility and therefore wisdom.  

Having the WORD OF GOD stored in our hearts (Psalms 119:11) is the first step in refraining from sinning against HIM.  HIS WORD will guide us through the minefields of “this world”!  HIS WORD will allow us to “BE READY” when the enemy tries a sneak attack to catch us off-guard.  For us to “BE READY”, we must rely on THE TRUTH of THE WORD OF GOD to do the work ONLY JESUS can do!