In 2Timothy 4:1-4 Paul wrote a pastoral letter to his son in the faith (Timothy), and this letter reads “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
This letter of Paul was not only relevant for Timothy’s time as a pastor, but also for our time. At a time like this when people seek what they want to hear, God still reserves for Himself faithful men and women who are committed to the teaching and preaching of God’s word.
Our time seems a challenging season to uphold the teaching of the Gospel of Christ, people in many of our churches prefer to hear what they would like to hear, many do not to want to endure sound doctrine, people find it easy to migrate to another church maybe because of a rebuke or correction from the elders of their church, yet, Paul in his letter to Timothy exhorted him to reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
Though daunting this task illustrated in the above scripture by Paul to Timothy, and daunting it is also for many ministers in our time, yet, as challenging as it is, God still reserves for Himself men and women who are keeping to the task.
Where do you fellowship? Are you in a church where your leaders instruct, correct and point you to sound doctrine? Then, how grateful are you to the Lord for that privilege? Have you ever thought of what a privilege you have to be in such a church? Faithful ministers of the Gospel are scarce. Pray for your leaders.