Be Prepared in Season and Out of Season

By: Justin Beville

Just this week, the Virginia High School League (VHSL) declared that there would be no High School football in the state of Virginia this fall. While this was anticipated, I cannot help but feel for those senior athletes. I feel for the senior who had a chance at a scholarship this fall. Maybe he got hurt and did not play his Junior year and this was his chance to make a comeback. Colleges will be making difficult decisions based off of prior film on athletes across the state of Virginia (and maybe others). There is a glimmer of hope for these athletes, however. The VHSL has sent a survey around that indicates a possibility of a season switch between fall and spring sports (many of the spring sports are not as contact heavy). Who knows what will actually happen, but athlete, be ready in season and out of season.

Believers, we have been commissioned to make disciples of all nations. That commission does not apply to a particular time of the year. We are called to this task daily. No, we do not share to get college scholarships or recognized as top athletes. We simply share because we are called to be faithful.

Church, this season of covid may have you thinking that we must wait till the next season to share our faith or until we are given the clear, but that is not so. We must “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” 2 Timothy 4:2.

Find creative ways to share your faith during this season. Use technology to your advantage. Talk with someone in person at a distance. Do not shy away from this commission. Be ready and be faithful.

I heard a story this week of two teenagers who live-streamed their time of reading the whole Bible. They read as fast as they could (to themselves) and they were live the whole time. The youth pastor was wary of comprehension, but the teen made an interesting connection out loud as they got to the New Testament. He challenged himself to do something different and because of it, people were pointed to Jesus.

What do you need to do to be ready? Will you go? Who will you go to? What will stop you from sharing this life changing message called the Gospel? The mission of making disciples continues no matter what season we are in. Go and be faithful! The Holy Spirit is moving!