top of page
Writer's pictureUMPC

In Season and Out of Season

Good Tuesday morning on this last day of May! I hope you all had a great weekend and are having a wonderful week. Congratulations to the Ash Grove baseball team. They won their semi-final game last night 11-0 against Maysville. This afternoon they will play for the State 2A championship. Also, today is my dad's 90th birthday! Here is today's devotional from "Connect the Testaments."


May 30: In Season and Out of Season

1 Chronicles 26:1–27:34; 2 Timothy 4:1–8; Psalm 89:23–52


I like to operate when I feel like I’m in control. When I haven’t gathered enough information or I feel uncertain of my circumstances, it’s tempting to avoid making a decision or taking action.

Paul knew that this type of outlook was detrimental to Timothy’s ministry. He tells Timothy that regardless of his circumstances, he was required to act: “Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and instruction” (2 Tim 4:2).

Paul uses the certainty of Christ’s return to motivate Timothy to stick to his task (2 Tim 4:1). Although Timothy experienced times when it was not always convenient for him to act on his calling, he had been admonished by Paul about the importance of the work they were doing together: their calling. He also knew the urgency of that calling. Christ’s return and the appearance of His kingdom was their motivation (2 Tim 4:1).

We can’t follow God only when the timing is right for us. We also can’t rely on our own strength. When doing God’s work, we can never plan well enough or anticipate all the potential kinks; our plans will never be foolproof. It’s not the mark of a Christian to be certain of how everything will play out in every circumstance. The mark of a Christian is reliance on Christ as Savior, God, and guide. Through the clear and calm and through the fog, we’re required to trust, act, and follow on the basis of our certainty in Jesus. Like Timothy and Paul, we must be certain of our standing in Christ and the coming of His kingdom. And that changes everything.

Whatever the task and in every circumstance, we’re required to simply follow Jesus. We are charged to act for the gospel now, regardless of whether it’s convenient.


How are you trusting in your own strength instead of Jesus’? How can you be ready in the right way, in every season?


John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).


Until tomorrow,

Pastor Joe

2 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Words and Actions

Good Thursday morning! I hope you are all having a great week! It's a rainy and cool October morning. Remember a couple of weeks ago when...

Defibrillators for Sardis

Good Wednesday morning! It is rainy and much cooler today, Fall is definitely here. As Wednesday is a day when people make weekend plans,...

It Will Eat You Alive

Good Tuesday morning. What a beautiful day we have been given. Cooler weather is moving in and it looks like we are going to get some...

Comments


bottom of page