Who went and bought groceries last Monday night when the Weather Channel and local news stations forecasted a chance of snow? As soon as the weatherman mentioned a chance of snow many of us likely ran to purchase the essentials… milk and bread. Although I have deep respect for the meteorologist and I love James Spann, isn’t it interesting how much faith we put in their predictions and how urgent we take their warnings.
What would happen if we, as the church, also took to heart the warnings and commandments of God? Maybe we have read the scripture enough that we forget it is the living and breathing Word of God, or maybe we have become apathetic to hearing it. Perhaps we need a wakeup call to remind us of the importance of following and sharing God’s word.
II Timothy 4:2 states, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. It is an active command. Go and do. Preach. Teach. Be prepared always. Paul is writing with urgency, but he is also saying you must have patience and a plan.
Jesus addressed the need for urgency in John 4. After speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well, the disciples return and “urge Jesus” to eat something. Jesus however is focused on helping others rather than on the physical need for food. He states, “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
John 4:35
The need to teach others the gospel is an urgent need. I challenge you this week to find ways to share who Jesus is with someone else. The gospel and the gift of salvation should be in the front of our minds always. Stay urgent. Stay prepared.