October 30, 2024 - 2 Timothy 4

A warning from Paul:  “For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.  And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths” (4:3-4).  “New things” . . . That’s sort of the way we are, isn’t it?  Always looking for the new and the novel.  Turning our backs on the tried and true.  This plays out in our political world with the “progressives” promoting ideologies that spurn pretty much any traditional thinking or actions and calling for “progress,” which, of course, is not necessarily progress; rather, just new.  And we know that new is not always good, and old is not always bad.  We have an old, old message, which remains just as true and powerful as when it was first spoken and, so, Paul encourages Timothy (and us):  “Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction” (4:2).  And if we follow Paul’s instruction, well . . .

If when you give the best of your service,

Telling the world that the Savior is come;

Be not dismayed when men don't believe you;

He’ll understand; and say, “Well done.”

Oh, when I come to the end of my journey,

Weary of life and the battle is won;

Carrying the staff and the cross of redemption,

He’ll understand and say, “Well done.” --Lucie Eddie Campbell (1944)