In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead . . . I give you this charge: (2 Tim 4:1)
Expanded Passage: 2 Timothy 4:1
Have you ever been so focused on what someone else did or said that you felt justified by your reaction? We may not realize it, but the way we interact with people flows from whatever our core internal motivation is.
In today’s Scripture, we don’t have the what that we are “charged” with yet; rather, we see why we are given instruction from the Lord on how to live, respond, and minister. Throughout life, what we are asked to do may look different, but our why should remain unchanging. I think we get so caught up in this life that we forget that one day we will all stand before God to give an account for this life.
As a mother, wife, friend, and pastor there have been many times I have lost sight of the bigger picture and responded in anger when one of my kids was acting wild, my husband hurt my feelings, or I felt someone in the church mistreated me. If I’m not careful, I could easily focus on how wrong I thought they were. But in light of this verse, I am reminded that ultimately, we are all accountable to God for our own part. He sees all, knows every thought, motive, and intention. He also sees the greater picture on how every action impacts his kingdom.
As your what changes, set eternity as your why.
Nicole Wiencek is a passionate Christ follower, wife, mom, and pastor at Keystone Church in Saline, MI. She loves great food, coffee, and meaningful ministry-centered relationships.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
