“And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.” (Titus 2:7-8 NLT)
You’re standing in the pulpit, preaching your heart out; sweat is flowing down your back, saturating your waist and even mildly soaking your feet. The people in the pews, although I’m sure they are paying attention, are shaking their heads in assent and approval of the God-sent message, but few are giving you verbal feedback. For a brief second you wonder if the word is being received and then you hear a voice from one of the back rows in the sanctuary. Someone utters a single word, “Preach!” That one word becomes motivation. It provides inspiration, and it puts a halt to measuring sermon delivery with a mental gauge that assesses the proficiency the preacher; a gauge that measures words and sounds coming out of the mouths of men and women. You hear “Preach!” and this makes you remember that the dynamics must not stop you from giving your all in performing your God appointed duty to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2 KJV).”
This morning I hope to motivate you with a single word; a word to move you to teach today by your example, instruct by your exemplary Christian behavior, and tutor others by your embracing of the truth in God’s excellent word; that s holy, specifically sent word that orders your steps. As with the preacher, I want to mobilize you, move you to action with one word. That word is not “Preach!” The word is “Teach!”
Go “teach” today, remembering you are Christ’s ambassadors. You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth! You are His witnesses! You carry around a treasure in an earthen vessel! “Teach!” Be blessed!
“But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 4:7 AMP)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King