Now, we Endure

Scripture: For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:3-5

Observation: There isn't much interpretation of this teaching of Paul. Following up on the prior chapters, Paul indicates that people will turn away from the truth, and instead will believe that which suits their own purposes and desires. They will find teachers who say what they want to hear, and will follow them, even when it is lies and myths. But we are to continue to go God's work.

Application: I find it interesting the actions Paul says to do ... endure hardships, be an evangelist, and do the work of the church.

For a long time now, the church in the United States has gladly done the third one - done our ministries. We have struggled to do the second - evangelism - with uneven results. We have never had to really do the third, at least not for about 240 years.

That is going to change. It is going to change now, change rapidly, and change painfully. It is going to push every single true believer in the U.S. beyond what we have known. The hardships will mean lost friendships, lost positions, lost finances, lost possessions, lost freedoms, lost influence, lost public opinion.

However, we know we will never lose. We must just do the work God has called us to do. He didn't call us to relax and do easy stuff. He called us to witness and teach ... evangelize and minister. Enduring hardships was always part and parcel with the entire body of work - just ask Paul, who is writing this letter from prison. Hardships were just the part of the call we chose to ignore.

That changes now.

Prayer: Lord, give me strength. Give my family and friend strength. Give our pastors and leaders strength. Give us all your strength, please. Amen, and Amen.