Pastors, Teachers, Be diligent!

231 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15) Paul challenges Timothy and all others who would teach and preach the Word of God, we must ever be conscious of the fact that we are not just preparing sermons and teachings for men, but we are also presenting ourselves to God in everything that we say and do in regard to His Word. We must come to the pulpit, the lectern, the microphone, confident that God will approve what we are about to proclaim or teach. If we would keep that in mind, it might guard us against careless handling of the Word of God, sloppy preparation of material, arrogant opinions, and preaching for the sake of pleasing others. We are in this for no other reason than to please our Commanding Officer! As we read in 2 Tim 2:4, “ that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” Don't miss the fact that he uses the term “workers!” We are workers, we toil, in the Word just as the Apostles did as we read in Ac 6:4 "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." This study includes proper hermeneutics! Don't let that big word throw you, it concerns the matter of proper biblical interpretation. Context, style of writing, and of course Scripture interpreting Scripture are all important parts of proper interpretation and that takes work! Such workers who have prayerfully approached the Word of God, beseeching the Holy Spirit to guide their message or teaching, need not be ashamed. The idea of rightly dividing the word of truth is to make a straight cut. Think in terms of a mason cutting a stone, or the work of a tailor, or perhaps a tentmaker like Paul. A straight cut in their line of work will ensure that the finished product will fit. For the preacher/teacher of the Word of God, a straight cut will ensure that the Word of God fits a given situation. Sometimes the gospel is needed, sometimes the Law! Stay true to the Word of God, for it is sharp and living on it's own and the Holy Spirit is able to use it to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable!