Preach It

Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season. – 2 Timothy 4:2

What does it mean to “preach?” In the modern hipster vocabulary, you might hear someone use the word to identify with what someone else is saying, as in “preach it, friend!” In the Bible, it merely means to publish or proclaim openly, which leads to an interesting question… What do YOU preach?

Everyone’s life is a subtle, unspoken message. That “word” is published simply by living. It is communicated casually over coffee, and at the beach on vacation. Your life sermon, in total, is in the choices you make and the attitudes you adopt, as well as the words you say. In his last letter to his protégé, the apostle Paul encourages Timothy to examine his message, reminding him to always keep it grounded in the truth of the Gospel of Christ. Can you identify with the magnitude of that challenge?

Today, just as in Timothy’s time, the dominant culture is not welcoming to a message of accountability before God; instead, most insist on hearing perspectives giving permission to pursue self-indulgence and pleasure. Without God’s strength, there is no way your life will stand up and speak out for Christ under the pressure of the world system. But the exceptionally good news of the Gospel is that you have everything you need, His power in reserve, to ultimately preach the message God has given you! 

Pray for insight and courage. Ask God to strengthen His people, everywhere from your neighborhood to the halls of American government, building up many to proclaim the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ, both with their words and in their life.