August 29 I Saturday

Psalms 126-128

1 Corinthians 10:19-33

“For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12, ESV

What are our thoughts after we read this verse? “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Are we in awe at the power of God’s Word? The very Scriptures that we read are breathed into existence by God Himself. But not only so, they are useful for rebuking, for correcting and for training in righteousness.

A man once described that preaching is like working on a house’s electrical system while the power is still on. When we study the Scriptures, do we realize that it is living and active? If we were to do some electrical work without turning the power off, it could electrocute us. Similarly, when we study the Word, we should be zapped by what we encounter because we are meeting a living God in His Word. It is like working on a light socket while the electricity is still on. When we approach God’s Word, it should be electrifying because it is living and active.

In light of the power of Scripture, Paul charges Timothy, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). What does it mean by “in season and out of season”? When the time is ripe and people want to hear it, deliver the message of the gospel; and even when it is not in season and people do not want to hear it, still preach the gospel message.

This mentality kind of chafes against our Canadian sensibilities. We are a culture of apology. We walk around saying, “Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.” Even when we go into a Tim Horton’s for a coffee, we say a bunch of “Sorrys” before we get our drink because we do not want to offend another. This mentality can affect the way we share the gospel with people. In a desperate desire to include everyone, we may be tempted to cut out parts of Scripture. We make the Word palatable so that following Christ becomes easier and easier, without any moral restraint whatsoever. This results in a Christianity that does not reflect God’s Word.

When Paul told Timothy to preach the Word, he knew there were going to be times when proclaiming Christ is not culturally popular or welcomed. Like Timothy, we should be prepared to face opposition, to go against the grain and to chafe against culture when we share with others the hope we have found in the living and active Word of God. Our task is to be faithful in preaching the Word as we leave the results to God.

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for Your perfect Word that is living and active. Keep me faithful, even in a world that rejects You, to share Your gospel truth to those around me.