Be Prepared To Preach the Word

Today's full reading: 1 Timothy 4:1-22

"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." (1 Timothy 4:2 NIV)

You may not consider yourself to be a preacher, but in some way or another all Christ followers preach the gospel. You may not preach Sunday sermons for large or small congregations, but you will have opportunities on a daily basis to preach the gospel through conversations with friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

Paul's instruction to "be prepared in season and out of season" is particularly applicable to us today. I know this, if you are not prepared to speak the gospel message, you won't! If you have not been meditating on scripture then you won't see the opportunities to sow it's truth in the lives of those who desperately need it (whether they recognize their need or not). We must take time to prepare ourselves to preach the Word.

Today, as an act of worship, thank God for his life-giving, life-sustaining Word. Ask the Lord to give you spiritual eyes to see the spiritual needs of others so that you can pray for them and speak the truth (in love) to them.