2Timothy 4: 1 – 8

November 11, 2022

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Verse 4 could apply to anything in the news today, couldn’t it? How many centuries ago were those words written? Seems like prophecy come true.

Verse 5 is the tough one and a major failing on my part. “Do the work of an evangelist,” How? I’m not a great speaker and no one has sent me an Aaron to help so … how am I to be an evangelist? I guess the closest I come is this blog. But that’s not really true because the folks that come here are already Christians. Sigh. I wish I knew where to start but I’m flummoxed at the mere idea of it. I suspect I’ll just have to wait til the Holy Spirit comes and slaps me upside my head and gives me my walking papers.

When you think of those words – do the work of an evangelist – what comes to mind and how are you at being an evangelist? I know a few of you who are very good at it. You know who you are.

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