Friday, February 19, 2021
Persistence in proclamation
An excerpt from 2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NRSV)
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.
Reflection from Catherine Martin:
Consider recent national events and debates through the lens of this passage.We have certainly endured much preaching, rebuking and extolling over the past many months!What is “truth”, “fact” or “reason”, and how can we feel certainty about anything? Or anybody? The verses remind us to look for consistency in the message, for unfailing patience and consideration in the messenger, and to maintain our faith in Christ and in our ability to love others as he loved us. Whether we are the hearer or speaker, we can do this!
For further study and prayer, the readings assigned for today are:
Psalm 25:1-10, Daniel 9:15-25a, 2 Timothy 4:1-5
Music:
“Rejoice the Lord is King”
Text Charles Wesley, arr. Dan Forrest, recorded by the StGs quartet
(Note: All music recorded by the StGsQuartet can be downloaded to iTunes.)
“Lift up your voice, rejoice!
Again I say, rejoice!”