Joy: 37-Day DevotionalSample

My husband served as a youth pastor for some fourteen years before moving into church administration. Over that time he received countless inquiring calls/emails from parents or prospective guests regarding the church and our youth. There are many, but one of the qualities I’ve always admired in him is the steadfastness of his philosophy of ministry. It’s something I watched develop in seminary and solidify while God grew him as a pastor. One such call came from a mom who was curious about our midweek gathering. My husband explained that we had a half hour or so of worship with a youth band and then moved in to a time of teaching when he taught our students from God’s Word. Her next question was, “That’s it? No games or fun stuff? How long does the Bible study last? Do you actually teach every week?” And then, “I don’t think we’ll visit. That’s not really what we’re looking for.”

At the end of Paul’s life, he wrote once again to Timothy and charged his son in the faith, “Preach the Word.” It is believed that this was his last written word and that he was executed shortly thereafter. Consider that you knew the end of your life was near. What would you tell your children? What would be burning in your heart to share? I imagine it would be those things that were most important, things you wanted them never to forget. For Paul, the Gospel of Jesus was the highest priority and to herald it was Timothy’s (and our) greatest calling. 

Paul not only charged Timothy with what to do (preach), he also told him when to do it (in season and out of season) and how (reprove, rebuke, exhort) with complete patience and teaching (doctrine). When it’s easy and when it’s not, preach the Gospel. Why? Because the days are coming when people won’t stand for sound teaching. Friends, we are in those days. Our message is a narrow one. But its implications, both for the believer and the lost, are enormous. 

Jesus, give us Paul’s urgency to speak the Gospel to everyone we know!