Verse of the Day 10/12

Verse of the Day 10/12

2 Timothy 4:2-3 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[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,   English Standard Version (ESV)

I was preparing a study for our men's Bible study group in 2 Peter 2 where Peter warned of false prophets bringing in destructive teachings, heresies.  2 Timothy 4:3 above, was the first cross reference listed for the verse.  It gives the remedy for overcoming those false teachers.  Preach the Word, in season and out of season, which means continually; all the time; week by week and day by day without fail.

In a time where people look for instant gratification and satisfaction to meet whatever their heart desires; including feeling "good " about what they believe it, it is easy to see how people can easily be led astray by seeking things from preachers that will tickle their ears, give them what they want to hear not what they need.

J. C. Ryle writes:

Beware of manufacturing a God of your own . . .    a God who is all mercy--but not just;    a God who is all love--but not holy;    a God who has a Heaven for everybody--but a Hell for none;    a God who will make no distinction between godly and ungodly in eternity.  Such a God is an idol of your own--as truly an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple! The hands of your own imagination and sentimentality have made him. He is not the God of the Bible--and beside the God of the Bible, there is no God at all. 

We are called to preach the Word; teach the Word as it comes from the Bible.  We should not be seeking to hear words "manufactured" by men to make us feel good.  God's Word alone is what points to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith and where we can find hope, peace and the grace to live according to God's Word.  

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

2 Timothy 4:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)

Preach the Word

4 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead ^[b]at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.