2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

I asked an elder that I deeply respected what in meant to be instant in season and out of season. His answer made sense at the moment, then. “Whether you feel like it or not.”

Now, years later, with many sermons, teachings, studies and experiences, I am not sure if I know how to make that real for myself. It is one thing to learn a things, to understand it, to believe it, and another to make it real, to do that thing.

The rest of the verse after the ; takes a fair amount of training and expertise in the Word. It does not come naturally to the babe in Christ, nor should it. The expectation of understanding a thing brings some level of confidence that you are ready. But is this what Paul was saying to Timothy? Maybe it was, but were are not Timothy or at that moment of preparedness.

But what if, in a more modern vernacular, Paul had said, “be all that you are wherever you are”? Would that make more sense? Would it say, God has prepared you, do not allow your feelings or present conditions stop you from being that man.

It does take out the doubt. It lays off the responsibility to act in a manner which you are not prepared for at that moment.

1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.