Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
-2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)
In his second letter to Timothy, Paul gives the young leader one last challenge. He tells him to ultimately be prepared to preach for God in season and out of season. In other words, God might be going to use Timothy when he least expects it, so no excuses. This is your warning. Be ready.
Paul’s emphasis on preparation got me thinking… What might the “seasons” of ministry be today?
Surely I am prepared to talk about God before I head off with a team of missionaries to a foreign country; or before I take 50 teenagers out-of-state to work on other people’s homes; or before I have the privilege to speak before our church congregation on Sunday mornings. Those are obvious. That’s “in season”.
But what about those “out of season” moments in life that aren’t so obvious? The redundant, day-to-day, mundane events like shopping for groceries, dining at a restaurant, or watching a high school football game. Those aren’t mission trips, right? Those aren’t ministry opportunities, right? God wouldn’t use me in those moments, so why bother, right?
Honestly, it makes me wonder how many opportunities to share God’s story of love I might have let pass me by simply because I wasn’t ready. All those “what if”s and “should’ve when I could’ve” instances. It’s kinda sad to think about, really.
For that very reason, Paul’s charge to Timothy is clear: be prepared to speak for God at all times. It could happen anywhere, with anyone, at any time.
Lord, I don’t want any more blown chances. May my sight continually be alert and on target. No more excuses. I’ve been warned. I’m ready.
It’s preaching season.
