Be ready out of season

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2 Timothy 4:2 NKJV

In 1970, Larry Trachtenberg was a 17-year-old talented cross-country athlete who saw an ad for the very first New York City Marathon in the pages of The New York Times. After taking a second look, Larry said he wondered if he could run a whole 26.2 miles without stopping and if he could run that long without drinking water? The answer to both of those questions turned out to be yes. On Sunday, Sept. 13, 1970, the day before his senior year began at Long Island City High School, Larry Trachtenberg was one of 127 athletes who lined up in Central Park to run the first New York City Marathon. He was one of 55 finishers. He will be the lone runner who ran the inaugural New York City Marathon who is also racing this year’s event, the marathon’s 50th running. Wow right? Not only will Larry find that running a marathon at 67 is a bit more challenging than running one at 17, I think he will be surprised to see all the water stations and crowd support that now line the course. A lot has changed in 50 years, hasn't it? I bet those 55 finishers never dreamed running marathons would become so popular. 

And you know, while running has become more and more popular in the last half-century, there is something that has not only grown more and more un-popular over that time but is now considered completely unacceptable to a growing number of people all around the world. And that "something" is sharing the gospel, something that was unpopular in Paul's time as well. Which is the very reason Paul urged Timothy to "be ready in season and out of season" to "preach the word." You see, it's one thing to preach "in season" when people are hungry to hear the Word and quite another to preach it "out of season" when people are hostile to it. But this is the very time that you and I should be boldly, courageously, and unashamedly sharing the Good News with everyone, no matter the consequences. 

So prepare yourself to preach “out of season” my friend. It won’t be easy but it will be worth it. Especially to the person whose soul was saved from hearing about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we have a duty to preach the Word both when it’s popular and when it’s not. Give us the strength to stand firm in our mission Lord regardless of what the consequences are knowing that our eternal reward awaits us in heaven. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!