Verse of the Day 8/18

Through the Bible - Psalms 100-102, Galatians 3

 

The weekend verses last weekend were from 1 Peter 3 where Peter encouraged us to  "set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." v.15

 As with most passages in the Bible, it reflects a common theme.  Peter speaks of preparedness here and Paul, David and others write of the same theme.  For today's verse we'll go to 2 Timothy 4 where Paul encourages young Timothy in the same manner.

 

2 Timothy 4:2-5 (NIV1984) ² Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ⁵ But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

 

The NIV, NKJV and others say "be prepared".  I like the Amplified Bible translation because it really brings it home, "stand by, be at hand and ready" at all times.

 

Mark Mittelberg writes in "The Unexpected Adventure", "open your eyes today to your surroundings.  Become more spiritually circumspect.  Yes do your work, pay your bills, and attend to your hundred daily details.  But remember that as a Christ follower your mission is never about tasks or achievement.  First and foremost, its about loving, serving and reaching the people God places in your life.  The interruptions can be portals into the realms of his supernatural activity and divine impact."

 

May we be circumspect, be aware, ready in life's "interruptions", knowing that they may just be portals that God is using to bring us into activities that will have an impact on others.  It will involve keeping our heads in all situations as Paul sums up in verse 5.

 

2 Timothy 4:5 (NIV)  But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

 

As the Amplified Bible states in verse 5, will you be "calm, cool, and steady" in the interruptions you face today?

 

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at mikesvotd.blogspot.com

2 Timothy 4:2-5 Amplified Bible (AMP)

²Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.

    ³For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,

    ⁴And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

    ⁵As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry