Today we lose a roommate. For the last 12 weeks a young man who has been working locally on a rotation to conclude his schooling for his Occupational Therapy degree has been living with us. Today is his last day of work. He has been a delight. I have joked with him on occasion that when Diane and I decided to open our home to a student that I was sort of hoping God would give us a heathen. Instead God sent us someone to inspire us.
Whether it is someone who lives with us for a season, the waitress at our favorite restaurant, or the patient on the back of the ambulance who said to me on Wednesday, “Keep pointing people to Jesus”, nobody is insignificant.
Not only do others have an impact on us, but we have an impact on them. As a pastor whose job it is to “keep pointing people to Jesus”, sometimes what I say can upset people. God’s Word says over and over that many people will be offended by His Word. But I have instructions to “proclaim it anyway”.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 says, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
Paul was reminding Timothy that staying faithful to God’s Word is not always easy. Sometimes it is very difficult. Paul was encouraging Timothy to “hang in there”. God gave Timothy someone to give him fuel for the path He had before him. I really feel like God has given us “fuel for our journey” by loaning us Marcus for three months. I can only hope that we have done the same for him… for the glory of God.
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Scott Knowlton's Blog 