Daily Devotional. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall THEY HEAP TO THEMSELVES TEACHERS, HAVING ITCHING EARS; 2 Timothy 4:2-3. There are many stories in the Old Testament about sinful congregations whom the Lord sends a Godly, Righteous man to preach to them the Word of the Lord. Many times the people didn’t want to hear the message the preacher had, so they killed the preacher and found someone who would preach to them what THEY wanted to hear, a smooth and easy word. But sometimes the sinful congregation would listen, repent, and follow the Lord. When this happened, the Lord’s Judgment was held off until later when new people came along who didn’t know the Lord. The point is, Godly Preachers will Live, and Die, in the Word. But there’s a second choice available to a preacher. He gets a mandate from the Lord to go Preach at a church, but because the church seems to be set in its ways, and they do write the paycheck, it’s easier for the preacher to water down his message so he can better fit in with the people. A smooth easy message giving token talk about God doesn’t ruffle too many feathers, and everyone reasonable gets along because no one’s under any conviction. This is actually a preacher selling out for the easy life. This is where the Lord says, OK, you won’t give them what I tell you too, then you give them what THEY want to hear and I’m out of here. I’ll put Ichabod over your front door and Leave. When this happens it shows that preacher never knew the Lord, he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing biding his time until he got what he truly wanted. He goes after his heart’s desire, AND THE PEOPLE GIVE IT TO HIM, and they all die in their sins. Be True to Christ, and, Be Blessed.
