July 29
“Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables,” 2 Timothy 4:2-4.
These words of the apostle Paul are addressed specifically to pastors and religious teachers. Then, why are these words being used as the basis for a morning devotion? They are being used to remind readers and hearers in the congregation of what they should expect to hear and what they should insist that they hear from their pastors.
An excellent example of one of the things that people should do in a congregation is given to us by the people in the congregation at Berea. In the Book of Acts, we read, “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so,” Acts 17:11. The Bereans searched the Scriptures daily to see whether the apostles were teaching the truth. In every Christian congregation until the end of time, the people in the pews should be searching the Scriptures to be sure that the truth is being taught. God’s Word is truth, and you do not have to be a Seminary graduate to figure it out! Furthermore, the apostles did not feel threatened by the people who were checking up on what was being taught!
The words of Paul to Timothy also include a warning: “The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.” That time has come! We are living in it. There are what we might call “fly-by-night” churches springing up everywhere. Many church people are growing tired of hearing the same old simple truths of Christianity which they have been taught. Today, every Christian teaching is being questioned and attacked. “Tell us some new thing, something we have never heard before,” is the cry of the hour! Many are like the Athenians to whom Paul preached at Athens, who “spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing,” Acts 17:21.
These words of the apostle are being fulfilled in our day: “They will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Many church people are looking for religious teachers who will teach things that are not in the Bible. They have itching ears, and they want to hear things that are new, different, and more exciting than the message of sin and grace. Many do not want to be told about their own sins. Oh, they have itching ears to hear about the sins of others! How about their own? Shhhh . . . ! Many insist, “Let’s not talk about sin at all! We only have different lifestyles!”
How about the teaching of Scripture – namely, that there is only one Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man? Many insist that there are more ways to heaven than one. Jesus spoke clearly: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” John 14:6. The apostles taught the same truth: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved,” Acts 4:11.
What does the Lord say to us today? “Preach the Word of truth at all times, in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all patience.” To the hearers, God says, “Search the Scriptures!” Continue in the faith in Jesus as God’s Son and the Savior, who suffered, died, and rose again to redeem all people. With His holy, precious blood He washed away our sins. By God’s grace we have been declared forgiven. Jesus rose from the grave and conquered sin, death, and the devil. Trust in Him with all your heart, and you will inherit heaven! God grant it, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.