New Testament... and Old...
each with a similar message...
Be prepared to speak His Word... His Truth...
convenient or inconvenient...
in all respects...
whether they listen or not...
Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency
[stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity
seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is
convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome
or unwelcome, you as a preacher of the Word
are to show people in what way their lives are wrong].
And convince them, rebuking and correcting,
warning and urging and encouraging them,
being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience
and teaching.
2 Timothy 4:2 Amp
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works,
and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech
that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be
put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
Titus 2:7-8 ESV
And you shall speak My words to them whether
they will hear or refuse to hear, for they are most rebellious. ...
And go, get you to the [Jewish] captives [in Babylon],
to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them,
Thus says the Lord God, whether they hear or refuse to hear.
Ezekiel 2:7, 3:11 Amp
Timothy... Titus... Ezekiel...
three godly men...
servants of the Lord...
all told in their time...
to speak His Word...
no matter the cultural climate...
...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season...
2 Timothy 4:2 ESV
We too... as followers of Jesus...
need to be prepared... to speak... model... preach...
His Truth... NO EXCUSES...!
The Lord gave Ezekiel a gift... of sorts...
one I've prayed for myself... at times...
a gift suited to help in the pursuit of speaking His Word...
regardless of how it is received...
"... Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces,
and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.
Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead.
Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks,
for they are a rebellious house."
Ezekiel 3:8-9 ESV
God blessed Ezekiel with a hard head...!
I've prayed to be hard-headed for the Lord also...
maybe we all should... those of us who love Him and follow Him...
for the cultural climate will continue to become less and less...
receptive to Truth...
For the time is coming when people will not endure
sound teaching, but have itching ears they will accumulate
for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
and will turn away from listening to the truth
and wander of into myths.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV
Be prepared... to speak His Word...
no matter the climate...
or the culture...
"A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed,
some seeds fell along the path... Other seeds fell
on rocky ground... Other seeds fell among thorns...
Other seeds fell on good soil..."
Matthew 13:3-9 ESV
Amen...
This week's readings...
Monday Ezekiel 8-10
Tuesday Ezekiel 11
Wednesday Ezekiel 12-13
Thursday Ezekiel 14-15
Friday Ezekiel 16
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