… ²preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

“Keruxon ton logon” is the transliteration of the Greek wording behind the phrase “preach the word.” It has a memorable, poetic ring to it, and we can imagine it echoing in Timothy’s ears from the moment he read those words. Paul punctuates the command with literary force, to indelibly etch this truth on every Christian’s mind and heart. Preach the Word.

This imperative is both static and ongoing. That is, it is said once as a singular event but intended to be an ongoing, continuous activity. We should be in the constant state of readiness to live out this instruction. Why?

• The Word of God is the judgment of those who reject Christ: “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day (John 12:48).
• The Word of God is foundational to all of Christian living, determining whether our life is built on the rock or the sand (Matt. 7:24–27).
• Exposure to the Word of God causes our faith to grow: “[F]aith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).
• Internalizing the Word of God is key to resisting temptation. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119:11).
• Sharing the Word of God in a variety of ways helps makes it more a part of our daily lives: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16).
• The Word of God clarifies our motives and convicts our souls: “[T]he word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb. 4:12).
• The Word of God proves indispensable in the process of Christ making us holy: “Christ . . . loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word . . .” (Eph. 5:26).

Lord, I commit to knowing Your Word, reading it, studying it, memorizing it, sharing it, and preaching it.