Daily Devotional - May 3, 2021
💚 Worship: If you'd like to play a song before you begin or while you read, may we recommend "Until The Whole World Hears" by Casting Crowns. Why not try asking alexa, siri, or google to play it for you?!
💜 Daily Verse: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
☆ 2 Timothy 4:2 NLT
💛 Let's Talk About It: Paul's second letter to Timothy is filled with so many amazing truths. This verse is filled with so much great advice.
Firstly, we see Paul telling Timothy to be prepared to preach at any time. This is something each of us should be prepared for as well. We don't know when or if God will call us to share with a stranger on the street or cashier in the grocery store. We should be ready to share the Word of God or our testimony at a moment's notice.
I love the fact that he includes "whether the time is favorable or not." In today's busy world, many of us walk through our day-to-day lives so preoccupied with what we have to do we can't even hear God asking us to share with someone.
As those who have been called to shine the light of Christ, we should be walking around looking for our opportunities to share rather than being concerned with ourselves. If it was your wayward child or parent, you'd want the Christian called to minister to them to share, right? We need to view others in the same way. They all matter to God. We each do.
Secondly, we see Paul teaching Timothy that in order to be a good minister, he must willing to patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage with good teaching. As someone who understands they're called into ministry, correcting my fellow brothers and sisters is something I find difficult. It is also something God has been helping me understand more deeply.
Paul is specific here that we correct with good teaching. What could be considered good teaching better than the Word? The Holy Spirit has revealed to me that if we are called to correct, we should do so using the Word of God.
I want to encourage each of you that whether you're called into the ministry or not, all of us have been commissioned by Christ to share the Gospel. It's not a matter of if, my friend, but when. So as Paul says, be prepared! You never know when God will call you. Ready yourselves!
❤ Prayer: Dear God, thank You for entrusting me to share the Good News that is Your Gospel. Lord, I thank You for teaching me that correction and rebuke are not bad things but tools I use to help my friends and those you've connected me with learn what Your Word says about how we should be thinking, acting, etc. Lord, I know that my salvation is based on my faith and not what I do, however, Your Word has taught me that You desire obedience over sacrifice. So with that said, Jesus, I pray that You would show me how I need to prepare to share Your Word with others. Lord, teach me to slow down and be more open to share. Thank You Holy Spirit, for directing my steps. Help me to be Your hands and feet. I love You, Jesus, and in your mighty name I pray, amen.