Be prepared! This is the teacher’s mantra. We write our lesson plans, choose books to read aloud, create learning centers, give opportunities for creative play and movement, and the list goes on. We carefully plan and prepare because we want the best for our students, giving them ways to learn and grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

In today’s verse, an older pastor, Paul, is giving this same advice to the younger pastor, Timothy. Paul is speaking to us as well. He says:

• Preach the word. This is our foremost objective. We tell others what God tells us, without adding or subtracting from God’s words. We teach that we are all sinful and deserve only God’s punishment. We comfort with the awesome news of Jesus’ sacrifice and salvation. We talk about and show how to live a life of faith and love.
• Be prepared in season and out of season. There is that word prepared again. We are prepared in season as we plan and teach our Bible lessons and songs, taking time to study them on our own first. We make time throughout the day to learn about Jesus, talk about him, pray to him, and sing to him. We also are ready to use God’s word out of season. Think about those teachable moments we face daily. We point out someone’s sin, not in judgment, but to help that person learn. We offer God’s grace, love, and forgiveness to the one who feels the sting of their sin. We look at ourselves and our failures, being reminded that we too desperately need God’s law and gospel. How can we be prepared for these unpredictable moments? We study God’s Word daily, learning and being encouraged by what God tells us in the Bible.
• Correct, rebuke and encourage. These are words most of us don’t like to hear. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a day without needing to correct or rebuke? That isn’t going to happen on this side of heaven, so we patiently work with our students again and again. We help them see how their words and actions can either help or harm. We guide them through making God-pleasing decisions. We point out sin and comfort with forgiveness. And then we do it again. God, with eternal patience, does the same with us, and will strengthen us to persevere.

Be prepared! It seems like a tall order and has eternal consequences. But we are not left to do this on our own. God equips us with his Word and gives us the Holy Spirit to guide our words and actions. He chose you and placed you where you are. He is with you always. You are prepared.