3rd Week April 2012 Adult Sunday School Lesson

2 Timothy Chapter 4

Paul reminds Timothy, in what may have been his last penned letter. We don't know for a certainty, but it is definitely at the end of his life. Paul states something that many Christians have taken consolation in for thousands of years, and that is in the end, God and Lord Jesus Christ, will have the last say. He will be the final arbiter of every deed done and word spoken.

This can apply to all Christians, but here especially to those that are called to preach, that one should be instant in season and out of season. Ready to speak and spread the Gospel regardless of how you feel, or whether you are inclined to do so. Being ready at all times and not caught off guard by a lax moment to be able to judge and be judged according to God's word. Paul states that eventually people will not listen to the truth and believe any thing that comes along. It was so in that day and is definitely so now, not that there was ever a time that is started, just maybe a time of predominance over another time.

Being a Christian, and so is with being a minister, it is not easy. There will be hardships and heartaches, but there is a joy and comfort following after Jesus that the world cannot understand or enjoy while it sits in sin. Notice that Paul is sure that his time is come to an end. He doesn't state it with a surety, but he may have very good reason through the Holy Ghost and also by decree, of what awaits him soon. He does not brag but states the truth about his mission field for the Lord. He is as decorated an evangelist as ever walked the earth in the commission of God's work.

After all of this it is interesting to see the things that he writes about. The Bible and Paul's letters are not novels. They are real events that happened to real people and there are details about wrong doings, and simple things like items left in other places.

To be sure, the walk that Paul chose to take was lonely except for himself and the Lord on many occasions. That is where we will find ourselves, and this is written for our exhortation, at some time in our Christian journey.

It ends though, with no matter what has happened to Paul, that he urges the grace of God on his fellow followers.