Living Out of Season, Part 2 - Staying Spiritually Motivated

       When you are “out of season” spiritually, in one of those dry spells that come in life—how do you remain motivated in your relationship with God?  What is it that should drive us in these times—so that we continue to live for the Lord and continue to share His Word with others?  This is important for us to know, because far too often people live their lives according to their emotions and the feelings.  Therefore, when they no longer have strong feelings moving within them, they have a bad tendency to thrown in the towel spiritually until their “feelings” return.  That is not how God wants us to live.  He wants us to live life by choices, not by feelings.  He desires for us to make tough choices based upon what He Word teaches. 

     Paul, in speaking to Timothy about this says to him, “I solemnly 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, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”  The command here is to “preach the Word” - but the motivation comes earlier in this verse.  Paul begins by giving Timothy this as a “solemn charge.”  This two word phrase means to give a very serious command or directive.  We continue “out of season” because we are doing God’s will.  This is important for us to grasp.  We are not living out of religious convenience—but out of a direct command from God Himself.

     Christians sometimes think that what they do is done as the better option.  But this is living, as I said earlier, out of religious convenience.  We don’t follow the Lord because it is one of several options available to us.  We live for Him because we are literally His.  In 1 Corinthians 6:20 Paul tells the Corinthians, “You were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your bodies.”  This is not just one of many options for us.  We are God’s possession and as such are to do what He says immediately when He says it.  That IS our option!  It is our ONLY option! 

     When you face those “out of season” times in life, remember that God has bought you with the price of the blood of His Son on the cross.  In light of this we are to remember, regardless of our feelings, just Whose we are.  Facing this truth we will be able to make choices in light of this and obey God—even when it feels like we are “out of season” and spiritually dry.