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; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:1, 2.
In this his last letter to Timothy, Paul held up before the younger worker a high ideal, pointing out the duties devolving on him as a minister of Christ…. Paul bids him preach the word, not the sayings and customs of men; to be ready to witness for God whenever opportunity should present itself—before large congregations and private circles, by the way and at the fireside, to friends and to enemies, whether in safety or exposed to hardship and peril, reproach and loss.
Fearing that Timothy’s mild, yielding disposition might lead him to shun an essential part of his work, Paul exhorted him to be faithful in reproving sin and even to rebuke with sharpness those who were guilty of gross evils. Yet he was to do this “with all long-suffering and doctrine.” He was to reveal the patience and love of Christ….
To hate and reprove sin, and at the same time to show pity and tenderness for the sinner, is a difficult attainment. The more earnest our own efforts to attain to holiness of heart and life, the more acute will be our perception of sin and the more decided our disapproval of any deviation from the right. We must guard against undue severity toward the wrongdoer, but we must also be careful not to lose sight of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. There is need of showing Christlike patience and love for the erring one, but there is also danger of showing so great toleration for his error that he will look upon himself as undeserving of reproof….
With the growing contempt for God’s law there is an increasing distaste for religion, an increase of pride, love of pleasure, disobedience to parents, and self-indulgence; and thoughtful minds everywhere are anxiously inquiring. What can be done to correct these alarming evils? The answer is found in Paul’s exhortation to Timothy, “Preach the word.” In the Bible are found the only safe principles of action. It is a transcript of the will of God, an expression of divine wisdom.
Conflict and Courage p. 347
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Prayer Requests
—–update—Buddy called yesterday morning and said his Hgb has gone from 10 to 11. They have moved him out of ICU. . . .He will be transferred to a rehab for more recovery soon. Buddy is very grateful for all of your petitions and prayers in his behalf. Please continue to remember him through this recovery period. Thanks, Donna
—–I have several friends that are experiencing serious health issues. . . . My dear friend Theresa has been receiving treatment for Colon, Liver and Lung cancer. She has a couple of chemo treatments to finish before she is suppose to go back for test and evaluation for surgery. . . . My brother in law Cortez has had multiple hospitalizations and he is not doing well. Archie has been told he has heart and kidney failure and they are treating him medically at this point. Please lift them and their families up to the Lord. Donna
—–I am so ready for Jesus to come, I lost a dear nephew last night. Pray for the family. Barb
—–A very dear friend of mine texted me tonight. She has been very sick for two days and she feels that she will end up in the hospital soon. Please pray for her to get well soon. She is such a sweet person. Also please pray for her eternal salvation. Connie
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Dear Friends,
We are finally home from our vacation after two days of driving to get here. There were some times that things could have ended much differently. Esther was diving and had checked to see if it was safe to change lanes. As she proceeded to do so, a motorcyclist going about ten miles over the speed limit, and weaving in and out of traffic appeared beside us without warning. Ron was following us in the truck and saw what was about to happen. Immediately, he honked his horn long and loud. Esther saw the motorcyclist just in time. Amazingly, the man just shook his head like we were the one at fault and did not reduce his speed but continued weaving in and out of traffic as if there were no danger.
We talked about his lack of wisdom in the way he was driving for quite awhile afterward. The words of Solomon came to mind. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov 14:12 He seemed to think that he was doing nothing wrong, yet he was putting himself and others in danger.
A few miles later, traffic came to a standstill and then a crawl. Soon police cars, with lights flashing, sped by on the shoulder of the road. We thought of that motorcyclist and wondered if he had been hit. Soon we saw that it was a car pulling a small travel trailer. The car was upright but heading the wrong direction. The trailer was on its side. It looked like there were no injuries, yet their vacation was ruined. We couldn’t help wondering if the motorcyclist had caused that accident when they swerved to avoid him.
Just so, our sins affect the lives of others. Their future depends on how we live. The hymn by Charles D. Meigs should be our prayer.
Lord, help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray
My prayer shall be for others.
Refrain:
Yes, others, Lord, yes, others,
Let this my motto be;
Help me to live for others,
Help me to live for others,
That I may live like Thee,
That I may live like Thee.
Help me in all the work I do
To ever be sincere and true,
And know that all I’d do for You
Must needs be done for others.
Refrain:
Yes, others, Lord, yes, others,
Let this my motto be;
Help me to live for others,
Help me to live for others,
That I may live like Thee,
That I may live like Thee.
Let “Self” be crucified and slain
And buried deep: and all in vain
May efforts be to rise again,
Except to live for others.
Refrain:
Yes, others, Lord, yes, others,
Let this my motto be;
Help me to live for others,
Help me to live for others,
That I may live like Thee,
That I may live like Thee.
So when my work on earth is done,
And my new work in heav’n’s begun,
I’ll praise You for the crown I’ve won,
But praise You more for others.
Refrain:
Yes, others, Lord, yes, others,
Let this my motto be;
Help me to live for others,
Help me to live for others,
That I may live like Thee,
That I may live like Thee.
May we so live that we can say as did the apostle Paul, “Brethren, be followers together of me” is my prayer. Phil 3:7
Rose
Passing the Torch