In...and Out

II Timothy 4:

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

We’ve been sharing for days now about seasons.  We’ve written about how God sends showers of blessing and all that we need in “due” season.  And we’ve talked about how even in seasons of drought, our thirst for the Lord brings about gratitude for the rain when it comes.

In this verse we are encouraged to be “prepared” in or out of season.  In other words, if we’re careful to dig our roots deep when the ground is soft from the soaking rains, we will be able to stand when it starts to crack in the heat of the summer.

We are to be ready to encourage and correct those with whom we worship, but only with patience and care.  In the same way that the Lord (the Master Gardener) has tended to us, pruned our branches, watered our roots, etc. we must extend the same care to those whom we lead.

I can’t think of anything much more damaging to a fellow believer than to treat them with harshness without love.  It wounds and sometimes kills their spirit.

I don’t know what season you’re in right now, but there are purposes for all four seasons.  Winter brings about very little growth, as most plants go dormant, but when the spring rains come, the seeds sprout and begin to grow and beautify our yards and fields.  Likewise, when the summer heat goes on forever and is too much to handle, the cool winds of fall blow in,  deep breaths of refreshing are taken, and we smell and see all of the beauty of the rich colors of the leaves changing and falling around us.

God knows our season, and he has promised to take us on through all four seasons, unscathed or scorched by the hard times.  In fact, he’s promised fruit to come out of every experience, every loss, every gain, and every drought.

And that fruit will bring healing for the nations, for our families, and for our neighbors.