Be Prepared

2 Timothy 4:1-5 "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

"Preach the Word!" We live in such a time of history that this charge could not be more important to each and every believer. This command is not just for pastors but I believe is the responsibility of every believer in Jesus Christ. Each of us needs to be prepared to "preach" the Word of God...to boldly share the Gospel whenever an opportunity arrives whether it is good timing or not or perhaps not even the "right" setting.

Recently, Brit Hume of Fox news boldly shared on "Fox News Sunday" that Tiger Woods needed the forgiveness and redemption that only Christianity offers. A firestorm has erupted. Yet, he has not backed down from his comments and has even expanded on his comments on "The O'Reilly Factor." Brit Hume is standing on the Truth of what the Bible teaches. Forgiveness...redemption...salvation through Jesus Christ. Mr. Hume was most definitely "prepared" to speak the Truth in and out of season and at a great personal cost.

These are the days that the world wants nothing to do with hearing the Truth about Jesus, but wants only a "pretty" lie. I'm afraid each one of us will sooner or later be in a situation where we will need to be "prepared" to preach the Word. I pray we will all take an example from Mr. Hume and speak the Truth at all times and in all places.

Be prepared.

MaryAnn

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 36 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of 3 grandsons. She serves at America's Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.