Quick Thought for Meditation – In Season and Out of Season – 2 Timothy 4:2

2 Timothy 4:2

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

Paul instructs Timothy as a minister to begin this fourth chapter that he is to be involved in the work of preaching the word at all times.  He should be either in preparation, actual delivery, or reflection upon delivery of the word of God in every season of his life not just those that lend themselves to these activities.  The difficulty for most ministers is the other obligations they face in life.  None of these obligations are bad, family, school, work, hospital visits, etc…, in and of themselves.  In fact a minister should be diligent to each and every duty.  However, those duties often take time away from study of the word.  A minister needs support and encouragement to fulfill Paul’s commandment as it was intended.

Quick Thought for Meditation – Grace Appeared – Titus 2:11

Titus 2:11

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”

How has this grace appeared unto all men?  The grace of God has made its appearance to man through the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul did not intend here to teach young Titus nor you and I that all men have seen the truth nor heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, but rather that the gospel was no longer hidden from any group of people.  The truth of salvation was no longer given to the Jews only, but was made manifest in the church to men and women, Jew and Gentile, servant and master, guard and prisoner, and on and on.  Today, there is not a category that you can place on an elect child of God that excludes them from the knowledge of Jesus Christ and him crucified.  The gospel does not bring salvation to anyone, but it brings the knowledge of salvation to all that wish to hear it.

Quick Thought for Meditation – Leaving Others Confounded – Titus 2:8

Titus 2:8

“Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

Furthermore, Titus is instructed to use sound speech, in other words to preach in such a manner that it cannot be condemned.  Not only was Paul instructing Titus to preach with an uncorrupted doctrine but to preach it with humility and love.  The idea being that if Titus preached sound doctrine which did not vary, and always preached it with love and humility even those that were against him would be confounded and limited in what they could say to bring him down.  Our enemies feed off of variations, anger, and pride in our speech and conduct.  Let us also, knowing that we have enemies around us, follow these same instructions.