Proclaim & Persist

Posted by Karah

Pause

Think about how quick you are to give up when people don’t respond the way you think they should. Now, thank God that He isn’t like that.

Think about a difficult situation you have faced or are facing right now. How quick are you to give up when something gets hard? Below, rate yourself from 1 to 10.

 never give up                   give up at first sign of difficulty

            1—-2—-3—-4—-5—-6—-7—-8—-9—-10

Read 2 Timothy 4:2-5 to discover a difficult situation Paul knew Timothy would face: proclaiming the gospel to those who didn’t seem to respond.

“Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.”

—2 Timothy 4:2

Ask yourself:

• When should you persist in proclaiming the gospel? What would that look like in your daily life?

• What does it mean to rebuke, correct, or encourage with “great patience”? Who do you know who truly lives that out? Explain.

• Why would correcting someone or sharing the gospel without patience be detrimental to the cause of Christ?

Respond

Do you know someone who needs to hear God’s message of hope? Have you tried sharing with them, only to become frustrated or discouraged? Commit to pray for anyone who came to mind by writing down their names. Ask God to give you opportunities to share His message with patience this week.

 

Behind the Story

Paul wrote this letter as he waited in a Roman prison for death by execution. He was convicted for being a follower of Christ. The letter was written to Timothy, Paul’s dear friend and the pastor of the church at Ephesus, as a sort of “passing of the torch” of leadership. Paul’s letter was to remind Timothy of what was truly important and to encourage him in the faith.

The Point

Because God is patient, wanting all to come to salvation, we must continue to share the gospel and encourage others with great patience and persistence.

 

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions