Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 4:1-5.

 

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:  preach the word;  be ready in season and out of season;  reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;  but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  2 Timothy 4:1-5.

 

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There are those who “will not endure sound doctrine” and who turn aside.  They may distract us away from our ministry.  They may cause us to be discouraged and to delay our ministry.  But, Paul solemnly charges us in today’s Scripture:  “preach the word;  be ready in season and out of season;  reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction“.

 

This solemn charge follows yesterday’s Scripture:  “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17.  Although we cannot sometimes see the fruit of our labors, we must meditate on verses like 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and trust the power of God’s word to accomplish God’s purpose.  

 

Isaiah 55:11
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;  It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

 

And, we also need to be prepared for persecutions and sufferings (2 Timothy 3:11-12), beyond just being prepared for those who “will not endure sound doctrine” and who turn aside, Paul continues to solemnly charge us:  “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

 

Yes, these are commands from God.

 

Yes, this a commission from God:  “an authorization or command to act in a prescribed manner or to perform prescribed acts : charge” –  Click here: Commission – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

 

 

This is also a commitment from God from beginning to end.    

 

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

 

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

 

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6. 

 

So, yes, we are under an Order.  “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.”  Acts 10:42.

 

But, God fulfills all of His commitment and purpose.

 

“9  Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10  Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11  Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken;  truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.

 

Matthew 24:14
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”