As the season changes and we gently slide into autumn; mists and mellow fruitfulness came to Keats mind when he wrote the poem "To Autumn"; we are perhaps reminded of the changes that come about with each change of season through the year.

We might consider ourselves blessed when we remember that though the seasons change, our God is no more or less active whatever time of year we find ourselves in.

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In 2 Timothy 4: 2, Paul told Timothy, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season."

Preach God's word all through the year; good advice to Timothy, and to anyone really.  We may choose the passages that we preach from dependent on the time of year, but there is no time of year, no season, when  we ought not to share the word of God.

I wonder though, do we find it all too easy to decide that "today is out of season", it isn't the time to speak? Maybe that's what Paul meant when he wrote to Timothy. From the little we know about Timothy, it appears that he was a timid man; was Paul, perhaps, urging Timothy to share the gospel whenever the opportunity arose - in season or out of season.

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Sharing God's word doesn't come naturally to many of us; preaching to the converted is one thing but to those who don't know the Lord; those who might ask difficult questions, well, that can be a daunting prospect.

The apostle Paul wasn't one to shy away from preaching the word, even if it landed him in prison - which it did!!

We could all take a lesson from Paul and think about the opportunities that arise when we could share the word; maybe just answering a question might open a door to expand on the answer. I was once given this advice, "If you don't know the answer, say, I don't know, but I'll find out for you", remembering too what Peter said that we should always answer with meekness and fear (reverence).

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Seasons come and go but the word of God is timeless, eternal and above all is ours to share.

Preach the word in season and out of season - are we ready for the challenge?

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Enjoy the months of autumn - Keats did.

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God bless.

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