Preach the Word ∙∙

Preach the Word ∙∙

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. – 2 Timothy 4:2

2 Timothy 4:2-4

2 Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and instruction.
3 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.
4 And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand, they will turn aside to myths.

Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924. Why begin another seminary? Its founders had a specific purpose in mind. They sought to preserve and propagate the art and science of expository preaching. They structured their curriculum to allow their students to study the Scriptures in their original languages. The goal was to equip and empower them with the skills to accurately interpret, explain, and apply the Old and New Testaments to others.

The Seminary’s seal has a Greek inscription: Kerusson ton logon. This motto translates to “Preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:2). It encapsulates the seminary’s mission – to comprehensively prepare to thoroughly equip children of the King to know, properly handle, interpret, and preach the Word of God. This mission is central to the Seminary’s raison d’etre. It has been rearticulated as “To glorify God by equipping godly servant-leaders for the proclamation of His Word and the building up of the body of Christ worldwide.”

The Seminary’s steadfast commitment is to Preach the Word. They teach the Scriptures and equip their students to do likewise. In so doing, they pass on to the next generation the primary tool the Father has provided for spiritual growth and development: the Scriptures. Through the living Word of God, individuals are provided an understanding of the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Apostle Paul approached the end of his life, he knew his service to the Father was concluding. What was of utmost importance to Paul? What was to be his legacy? The answer is found in his final instructions to his disciple and son in the faith, Timothy. He handed off the torch of biblical exposition. Think of it as Paul’s last words.

2 Timothy 4:1-2

1 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:
2 Preach the word of God.

Paul’s words were riveting, solemn, and passion-filled. In Paul’s mind, the stakes could not have been higher in light of what lay ahead for both Paul and Timothy. They were united in their mission and objective. They had both been called by the Father into His spiritual work of service.

Paul created vivid images for Timothy to latch onto. It is as though Paul, in some marvelous unknown fashion, whisks Timothy away and transports him into the very presence of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Once in their presence, with the Father and the Son bearing witness, Paul passionately implored Timothy to preach the Word.

When Moses urged the nation of Israel to follow the righteous path, he employed a similar tactic. He invoked heaven and earth to bear witness to the decision made by the people (Deuteronomy 30:19). In American culture, it is similar to being sworn in to testify in court. Paul essentially says, “I have solemnly sworn to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God! Now Timothy, my son, I implore you to do the same!”

This same sense of responsibility and commitment to truth marks Paul’s charge to Timothy. Timothy is reminded that his mission is not to be taken lightly. Preaching the word is a sacred duty that requires unwavering devotion and faithfulness in the presence of God, who sees and judges all.

Being in the presence of the Father is an overwhelming experience, as seen in the lives of His prophets. It deeply pierced their hearts and shaped their calling. This is evident in the accounts of Isaiah and Ezekiel.

Isaiah’s vision is recorded in Isaiah 6:1-8. He saw the Sovereign Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, with mighty seraphim attending Him. The seraphim called out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!” Isaiah was struck by the enormity of his unworthiness, exclaiming, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”

A seraph then flew to Isaiah with a burning coal, touching his lips and removing his guilt and sin. When the Lord asked, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” Isaiah responded, “Here I am, send me!”

Ezekiel’s calling, described in Ezekiel 1:28-2:5, was equally profound. After witnessing a remarkable vision, Ezekiel fell face down. He then heard a voice instructing him, “Stand up, son of man. I want to speak with you.” The Spirit entered him and set him on his feet as he listened carefully. Ezekiel was told, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel,” with the understanding that whether they listened or refused to listen, he was to deliver God’s message. One way or another, they would know that a prophet had been among them.

These encounters with God’s presence transformed Isaiah and Ezekiel into His prophets, equipping them to fulfill their missions with the knowledge of His holiness and their responsibility to serve.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father has given every child of the King an extraordinary mission—to share the good news of His redemptive plan, the message of salvation that brings hope and transformation to the world. This calling is a sacred privilege to carry forward the work of our Savior.

Father, strengthen my heart to carry out the assignments You have given me.

INSIGHT

The mission of sharing God’s truth finds its ultimate example in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. From the very beginning, the Father entrusted Jesus with a purpose that was carefully foretold through messianic prophecy. Isaiah 61:1-2a gives a glimpse of this mission, describing a Messiah empowered by the Spirit to bring good news to the suffering, freedom to the captives, and sight to the blind.

Centuries later, this prophecy came alive in a remarkable moment recorded in Luke 4. During a Sabbath visit to the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus joined in the customary service, which often included reading and explaining passages from the Old Testament. This tradition, called targuming, involved offering insights and interpretations to the congregation. On this particular Sabbath, the scroll of Isaiah was handed to Jesus. He unrolled it and read aloud:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”
(Luke 4:18-19)

The congregation sat spellbound as Jesus finished reading, rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. At that moment, all eyes were on Him, waiting for His commentary—His targum. What He said next left the room in stunned silence:

“The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”
(Luke 4:21)

With those words, Jesus declared that He was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. No further explanation was required. He wasn’t just reading the text; He was the text brought to life. The Messiah had come, and His mission was clear—to proclaim God’s salvation and bring restoration to a broken world.

Jesus began His mission as the Messiah by preaching the good news and proclaiming liberty to all. He urged His disciples to take what He taught them and proclaim it openly (Matthew 10:27).

The term “herald” may sound outdated to modern ears, but it carries rich historical significance. Heralds were entrusted with important messages and tasked with delivering them publicly. The Greek term for herald is kerux, and its verbal form, kerusso, means to proclaim, announce, make known, or preach. This is the same word translated as “preach” in 2 Timothy 4:2.

Preaching is fundamentally an act of communication. Expository preaching, in particular, involves providing clear explanations and interpretations of Scripture. It centers on publicly proclaiming the Father’s redemptive plan to save the world. The role of a preacher is not to share personal opinions or ideas but to faithfully preach the Word—God’s enduring, authoritative truth.

Before He ascended to heaven, Jesus gave His disciples instructions that revealed what mattered most to Him. His parting words carried the same gravity as Paul’s final charge to Timothy.

The Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His disciples with these instructions, recorded in Matthew 28:18-20: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This command is not only for the original disciples; it is a mission entrusted to all children of the King. Each of us has a responsibility to carry out the Great Commission by sharing the good news of Christ. The question is not whether we are called—it’s how we will respond to that call. Every believer has been given this sacred task to make disciples and teach others, continuing the mission of proclaiming God’s truth to the world.

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© Dr. H 2025

Cut it straight ∙∙

Cut it straight ∙∙

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15

2 Timothy 2:14-17

14 Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.
17 This kind of talk spreads like gangrene . . ..

Individuals who have spent years perfecting their sewing skills develop remarkable talent and expertise. The journey to successful sewing doesn’t start with the needle and thread, but rather, it commences with the selection of the fabric to be sewn.

Mastering the art of cutting fabric straight is crucial and cannot be stressed enough. A misstep in the initial cut can lead to a complete disaster. Fabric pieces that are supposed to align may end up being different lengths, leading to twisted or uneven seams.

To cut fabric “on the grain,” start by aligning the material correctly and locating the weft, which runs perpendicular to the selvage (the tightly woven edge). The warp runs at right angles to the weft. To create straight lines as guides, gently pull a thread from both the weft and the warp.

All you need to get started is the fabric of your choice, a blueprint or pattern to follow, and a cutting instrument such as scissors.

The apostle Paul was a tentmaker by profession (Acts 18:2-3). It was his “day job.” He had mastered the art and skills required. Tentmaking was not for the faint of heart. Neither is handling the word of God or being responsible for explaining it to others.

Paul admonished Timothy to rightly divide the word of truth. The Greek word translated as rightly divide is orthotomeo. Orthotomeo comes from orthos – straight and tomeo – cut. This is an old tentmaking term that literally means “to cut straight.” As a figure of speech, “it means to interpret, analyze properly, teach correctly, or expound rightly.” Much like fabric, the word of God also requires accurate and precise handling. This refers to correctly and accurately interpreting, teaching, or explaining the word of truth (UBS). There’s no room for incorrect cuts, shoddy work, personal views, opinions, or laziness.

The Greeks utilized orthotomeo in three distinct ways. It was employed to depict a straight road across uneven terrain, for plowing a straight, unswerving furrow in a field, and the meticulous work of a mason in cutting and positioning a stone so it flawlessly slots into a building’s framework. (Barclay).

Any child of the King who studies the Word of God with the intention of imparting or instructing others assumes a tremendous responsibility. It is not for the faint of heart. Nonetheless, it’s the responsibility of each of His children to share His truth with others.

Reflect for a moment on the teaching you offer others. Is it just “good enough?”

Paul is saying “Good enough” is simply not good enough.

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well” (Philip Stanhope, 1746).

Father, thank You for the outstanding and excellent teachers You have provided me over my lifetime. May I do my best when I prepare and share the magnificent truths found in Your Word.

INSIGHT

The Father sets an exceedingly high bar for us. His standard is nothing short of excellence. Would He have established such a lofty benchmark if He didn’t believe we could achieve it? To ask the question is to answer it.

Regrettably, in modern culture, the importance of quality is often undermined and downplayed. There’s a pervasive attitude that paltry efforts are “good enough.” Yet the results are frequently haphazard and slipshod. The prevailing sentiment seems to be, “What does it really matter?” Against this backdrop, the children of the King should feel privileged to have a benchmark of excellence for which to strive.

Don’t be disheartened; instead, be encouraged. While achieving perfection is highly unlikely, excellence is doable. However, excellence requires focus, time, commitment, and practice. Ultimately, we stand or fall before the Father.

Matthew 25:23 Well done, my good and faithful servant.

The Father presents numerous opportunities for personal growth and development. His challenges are not designed to condemn us. Instead, they pinpoint where we are and the necessary actions we need to take to improve. The ultimate objective is to gain His approval.

The Greek word dokimos, translated as approval or stands for the test, “pertains to things that have passed a test.” For instance, a clay pot must endure the test of fire. It’s placed in a kiln, fired, and then inspected. If it had no cracks, it was “approved for service” and was stamped dokimos. Dokimos “describes anything that has been tested and ready for use (Barclay).

How do we achieve this? Paul lays out clear guidelines, outlining both actions to take and behaviors to avoid.

Paul urges us to be zealous and diligent. The Greek word spoudazo, translated as be diligent or work hard, emphasizes the “effort required to attain excellence.” It means “being hardworking,” “sincere,” and “enthusiastic,” and “striving to achieve your best in every effort.”

We should avoid pointless disputes over words and refrain from engaging in worthless and foolish conversations.

There’s a peculiar characteristic of foolish and worthless words: they spread like gangrene. They’re akin to gossip, which many people relish hearing and sharing.

Proverbs 26:21-22 offers valuable insight: “21 Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into a person’s innermost being.”

For the Father, the proper handling of His word, extracting the correct interpretation, and explaining it accurately are of utmost importance. Each of the Father’s servants will be either approved or ashamed. Therefore, be diligent, work hard, and make every effort to interpret His word correctly and accurately.

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© Dr. H 2025

An eye for an eye ∙∙

An eye for an eye ∙∙

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth . . .. – Exodus 21:24

Exodus 21:23-25

23 But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life,
24 an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot,
25 a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.

In June 2017, Kieran Healy, a resident of Orange County in central North Carolina, got the shock of his life one summer afternoon. Kieran couldn’t believe his eyes when he opened his water bill for the month. The total water usage cost was $189.92, which is pretty standard for June. But the service charge was totally absurd, just under $100 million. That’s right, one hundred million dollars.

Staring at the figure, Kieran couldn’t help but laugh at its sheer impossibility. Maybe the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) thought he was secretly operating an ocean inside his backyard. Fully aware of the error but unwilling to miss an opportunity to inject some humor, Kieran proposed to pay off the mammoth bill from OWASA in “installments.” After all, what’s a hundred million between utilities and the people they serve?

Thankfully, sanity prevailed. Stephen Winters, a representative from the utility company, assured Kieran it was all a giant clerical mistake. He would never owe OWASA that astonishing amount of money. The error would be corrected, and his “debt” would be completely forgiven. Relieved and perhaps a little amused, Kieran’s account was adjusted, and life continued onward.

For most of us, a $100 million debt is not just excessive—it’s unthinkable. But while fiscal debts like Kieran’s are rare, other kinds of debts—moral, emotional, and relational—are far more common. And much like an out-of-control water bill, they must be addressed before they overwhelm us.

This brings us to a well-known phrase from Scripture found in Exodus 21:24: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” While familiar, this phrase is often misunderstood. Many interpret it as a call for revenge, a green light to “get even.” But that couldn’t be further from its true meaning. If we all followed that interpretation literally, society would crumble into chaos—a land where everyone is blind or toothless. The confusion stems from taking the phrase out of its biblical context.

Exodus 21:23-25 provides the clarity we need: 23 But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life, 24 an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, 25 a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.

This principle, often called the Law of Retaliation, is better described as the Law of Limited Retaliation. Its purpose wasn’t to encourage vengeance but to ensure justice remained proportional. It placed firm boundaries around punishment to prevent excessive and unjust retribution. The guiding rule? The punishment should fit the crime—no more, no less.

This law was particularly significant in ancient times when the rich and powerful frequently retaliated with brutal overreach. A minor offense could provoke a wildly disproportionate response, as extreme as using a cannon to kill a mosquito. God’s Law, handed down through Moses, counteracted this societal imbalance by enforcing fairness and moderation.

Later, the Romans developed their own version of this concept, and it became known as lex talionis, meaning “law of retaliation” in Latin. The Latin word talis translates to “of like kind,” giving us the English term “retaliate.” The law formalized the idea of “paying back in kind,” ensuring justice was rooted in equity, not excess or personal vendettas.

But it’s important to recognize that the Father’s heart has always been about redemption, not revenge. The law wasn’t designed to satisfy our desire for payback—it was a protective mechanism to maintain harmony and prevent a spiraling cycle of violence.

Scripture reiterates this in Romans 12:19: “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will repay,’ says the LORD.”

This verse reminds us that the Father is the only one qualified to settle ultimate accounts. If revenge is necessary, He will handle it in His perfect way, but His overarching intent is always to redeem, restore, and renew. The Father is not in the revenge business. He is in the redemption business. But if revenge is required, He takes responsibility for settling accounts.

Just as Kieran’s absurd $100 million water bill was forgiven in full, the Father offers the same kind of grace. He wipes away our debts—whether moral, emotional, or relational—offering us relief, redemption, and a fresh start. And that’s a gift beyond any measurement, far greater than we could owe or repay.

REFLECT & PRAY

Regret and shame are universal human emotions. We often find ourselves carrying the heavy burdens of anxiety, sadness, depression, and guilt. These emotions can weigh us down, what can we do?

Father, thank You for forgiving us. Encourage our hearts to forgive and not seek our own revenge.

INSIGHT

What occurs when the injury or debt resulting from sin is so extensive that no one on earth can make amends for it?

The Father God, in His holiness, righteousness, and goodness, finds sin utterly repugnant. Sin is not just a mistake—it creates a sin debt between us and the Father. Every wrong thought, word, or deed adds to this negative balance, like a snowball rolling downhill, growing larger and heavier over time. Throughout a lifetime, this spiritual debt becomes unpayable, a burden too great for anyone to shoulder. Imagine owing $100 million to the water company—a crushing, impossible debt. But unlike an accounting error, our sin debt is no mistake. It’s real, and it demands resolution. It cannot simply be ignored or left unpaid.

It weighs us down spiritually, erodes our sense of worth, and leaves us drowning in guilt, shame, and frustration. It nags us with a persistent feeling of failure and hopelessness. Eventually, we realize that such a humongous debt can never be paid through anything we do. No amount of effort or personal sacrifice can pay it off. The question remains—how could such a debt be forgiven?

There is Good News: the Father, in His infinite love, devised a plan alongside the Son to cancel this towering debt forever. They conceived a way to erase it completely, to wipe the slate clean for each individual. The logic behind their divine solution is both simple and profound. Someone with no sin debt of their own—someone blameless and pure—could step forward to pay the debt for someone else.

This is where the Lord Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, comes in. He lived a perfect, righteous life, free of any spiritual debt. With no debt of His own to settle, He was uniquely qualified to take on the debt of others. And not just one person’s debt, but the collective weight of sin from all of humanity, spanning all of time. It was a transaction not bound by earthly limitations and standards. It was carried out by the infinitely creative and eternal mind of God.

Through His sacrificial death on the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ bore the full penalty for our sins. Every ounce of sin debt—past, present, and future—was laid upon Him. He endured the unimaginable weight of this burden so that we wouldn’t have to. In doing so, He paid in full the collective sin debt of all humanity throughout all the ages. At a moment in time, He paid the price for all sins simultaneously.

The apostle Peter captures this incredible act of love and sacrifice in 1 Peter 2:24: “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds, you are healed.”

The Lord Jesus Christ took upon Himself the burden of our sin debt. The debt was paid through His death, and forgiveness was available for all who received it. All who accept Him as their Savior and Lord can live for what is right and die to sin. The Father’s gift of forgiveness for our sins and debts is life-changing. Rather than retaliation for our wrongdoing, we were offered forgiveness and the gift of life.

1 Peter 2:21-23

21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
22 He never sinned nor ever deceived anyone.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

Retaliation and revenge should be removed from our vocabulary once and for all. We have a higher calling. The Lord Jesus Christ refused to return evil for evil.

Instead, He prayed for His tormentors.

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is the model. Are you willing to follow in His steps? Is it time for you to cancel all the accrued sin debts of others owed to you?

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© Dr. H 2025

Escape lanes ∙

Escape lanes ∙

Cling to your faith in Christ and a good conscience. Some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. – 1 Timothy 1:19

Romans 2:14-15

14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,

A group of young adults in their twenties was returning from an invigorating weekend at a mountain retreat. The resort, perched 5,500 feet above the world below, had been a place of joy and memory-making. But as the sun set and evening shadows stretched across the winding mountain road, their descent became anything but routine.

The driver, a novice in handling mountainous terrain, gripped the wheel nervously. His hands were clammy, his knuckles white as he was “riding the brakes.” The brakes pushed beyond their limit, gave out. The car was at the mercy of gravity. With no means to decelerate, it started accelerating down the steep grade.

It was a disaster waiting to happen. The impending sharp turn was one that the car couldn’t handle, threatening to send it careening off the road and potentially causing severe, if not lethal, injuries to its occupants. Just a single mistake or a fraction of a second could send their vehicle tumbling into the abyss.

Then, it happened.

Panic gripped the driver as he wrestled with the wheel, helpless against the car’s momentum. And then one of the passengers shouted, “An escape lane! Take it—NOW!”

Understanding the perils associated with downhill driving, the highway authorities thoughtfully provided escape lanes that serve as safety nets. They enable runaway vehicles with brake problems to stop safely. These lanes are long and filled with deep gravel or sand and provide a safe stop for cars, trucks, or buses that have lost control. When a vehicle veers into an escape lane, its kinetic energy dissipates slowly in a controlled manner.

The driver veered toward it. The tires sank into the deep bed of gravel and lost their forward motion. The runaway car slowed until it came to a stop, jostling the passengers one last time before everything went still.

The silence that followed was heavy, but it wasn’t fear anymore—it was relief. Hearts still pounded in their chests, but their lives had been spared, and all because the escape lane had been there at the right moment.

Drawing a parallel, the Father has equipped every child of the King with their personal escape lane – the conscience. The human conscience, an innate moral compass, is both a warning device and a way to escape danger. Whenever our feelings, thoughts, or actions veer off the right path, our conscience, our moral compass, is wired to warn us when danger is near.

When our feelings, thoughts, or actions begin hurtling toward harmful decisions, our conscience alerts us. It doesn’t scream, but it’s persistent—a red flag waving, a quiet whisper calling us to stop and check the path we’re on. It guides us, offering a chance to veer off the dangerous course and find a place of safety.

Once the conscience warning light goes “off,” it’s up to us to heed its warning. When the conscience flashes, we can choose to adjust our course and decelerate, or we can barrel onward, vainly hoping to avoid catastrophe.

In life, the road ahead can twist and turn unexpectedly. Our experience may falter, and momentum can build. However, just like an escape lane that helps save lives on a mountainside, our conscience serves as an inner guide, slowing the destructive downward momentum when everything feels out of control. Whether dealing with a runaway car or a hasty decision, relief is available to those who choose to slow down and heed the warning.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Be the master of your will and the slave of your conscience” (Hasidic Proverb).

Father, thank You for providing me with a conscience. How many times has it saved me from serious danger? Please help me to be increasingly sensitive and receptive to its warnings. Strengthen my resolve to do what is right.

INSIGHT

What is a conscience, really? It’s something intangible—an invisible yet powerful guide that lives within every one of us. Think of it as an internal compass, constantly evaluating our thoughts and actions against the moral standards we hold. It categorizes them, marking each one as right or wrong, helpful or harmful, good or bad. Essentially, the conscience serves two roles—it’s both the prosecutor and the judge within the courtroom of our minds.

The word “conscience” comes from the Greek term syneidesis, which stems from the verb synoida. This word breaks down into two parts: syn, meaning “with,” and oida, meaning “know.” It literally means “co-knowledge” or “to know with.” It describes a kind of “perceptive awareness,” “an inner knowledge of right and wrong.”

The conscience is like a referee in a sport like basketball or football. It is constantly on alert for fouls or penalties, that is, violations of the rules of the game. Its judgments are based on the set of rules that it has. Our conscience’s calls are based on the moral “rulebook” we carry inside, one that may vary slightly from person to person depending on upbringing, experiences, and beliefs. But like any referee, the conscience can make mistakes. It’s not infallible. It can be silenced, ignored, or even programmed with faulty data, leading it to make the wrong calls.

The Creator magnificently designed this inner moral guide with incredible precision, but it’s up to us to nurture and maintain it. Like any tool, it’s subject to wear and misuse. A conscience can become desensitized—seared—through repeated violations. It can be muffled by excuses or drowned out by louder voices. It’s powerful, yes, but it’s also vulnerable to harmful persuasive influence.

Billy Graham once said, “Most of us follow our conscience as we follow a wheelbarrow. We push it in front of us in the direction we want to go.”

It’s a sobering reminder that while the conscience is meant to guide us, too often, we manipulate it to suit ourselves. The challenge is to respect our moral compass, allowing it to guide us rather than manipulating it to justify our choices. By doing so, we can ensure that our inner sense of knowledge directs us toward what is truly right and good.

The conscience is a lot like a thermometer. A thermometer indicates when you have a temperature but does not lower it. It simply measures and indicates when something is off. Similarly, your conscience doesn’t define or create moral standards—it measures your thoughts and actions against the values and rules you’ve internalized over time. It’s there to alert you when a moral discrepancy exists, much like a thermometer tells you when you have a fever.

Think of it this way—every human being is born with a built-in sense of moral responsibility, something philosophers call a sense of “oughtness.” It’s that deep, internal awareness that some things are right while others are wrong. Some cultures might describe this as “the inner voice,” “the voice in one’s heart,” or “how you know what’s right and wrong.” But here’s the catch—while we’re born with the capacity for conscience, it starts as a blank slate. That is, it is not programmed.

From the moment we’re born, our conscience is shaped and programmed by the world around us. It absorbs values, norms, and standards from our family, culture, experiences, and beliefs. These learned rules become the guidebook against which our conscience measures our actions. When we violate those standards, the conscience reacts—it signals something is out of alignment, pointing out the gap between what we’ve done and what we know we ought to do.

The Bible captures this beautifully in Romans 2:15, which says, “Their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.” Here, the conscience is described as a witness to our inner life, acting as both a prosecutor and a defender, depending on how well we’ve aligned with the values we’ve internalized. It’s a “reflective mechanism,” as Douglas Moo puts it, one that measures how closely we’re conforming to the norms we’ve adopted.

The conscience doesn’t just accuse us when we’ve strayed. It both condemns and commends. It is as though each of us has two different opposing identities inside. They evaluate the same things from different perspectives. One disapproves while the other affirms. The conscience both accuses and excuses. This can be expressed, “sometimes their thoughts say, You did wrong, and sometimes their thoughts say, You did right” (UBS).

But like a thermometer, the conscience only measures—it’s up to us to act on its signals, to make the adjustments needed to align our behavior with what we know to be true and good.

The story of the Two Wolves is a well-known legend often linked to the Cherokee people. In this story, a grandfather uses the image of two wolves fighting inside him to explain his inner struggles to his grandson. When the grandson asks which wolf wins, the grandfather replies, “The one you feed is the one that wins.”

In other words, the conscience is like an inner voice that tells us what is right or wrong. In simple terms, it’s like a switch that can be either OFF or ON.

Biblical principles help shape a good conscience. Every child of the King should cultivate a mature, godly conscience. A godly conscience is our spiritual and moral escape lane.

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© Dr. H 2025

Minor characters ∙

Minor characters ∙

I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord. – Romans 16:22

Philippians 2:20-22

20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare.
21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.
22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News.

Edward Kimball might not be a name you’ve heard before. He doesn’t grace the pages of history books nor have a mention on Wikipedia. At first glance, he seems like an ordinary man living an obscure life in 1850s Boston. When it comes to the kingdom of God, there are no minor characters. Every child of the King, no matter how ordinary they may seem, is cherished and called to serve the Father.

Kimball, a humble Sunday school teacher, was far from insignificant. His life serves as a powerful example of how simple acts of faith can leave an eternal impact. Passionate about Jesus Christ and His message of salvation, Kimball dedicated himself to his students. Impelled by kindness and genuine care, he strove not only to teach them but to lead them to a life-changing relationship with Christ.

One young man in his class, however, appeared to be totally uninterested in faith. Undeterred, Kimball felt a burden to reach out to this student, even if it meant stepping out of his comfort zone. On April 21, 1855, compelled by his convictions, Kimball made his way to Holton’s Shoe Store in Boston, where the young man worked. Finding him in the back room wrapping shoes, Kimball shared the story of the Lord Jesus Christ with sincerity and love. Something remarkable happened that day—the young man truly listened. His heart was stirred, and he gave his life to Christ. Reflecting on the experience, he later said, “I had not felt that I had a soul till then.” The young man recalled, “I was in a new world. The birds sang sweeter; the sun shone brighter. I’d never known such peace.”

This young man was none other than Dwight L. Moody, who would go on to become one of the most impactful evangelists of the 19th century. Fueled by his newfound faith, Moody began sharing Christ with others right away, despite resistance from his own family. He searched for young men like himself and shared his new faith with them. When he tried to join the church, he was initially not accepted. Why? He was asked what Christ had done for him, and being somewhat nervous, he replied that he was not “aware of anything particular.” But eventually, things got straightened out.

Though initially awkward in articulating his beliefs, Moody persevered and found his footing. Over time, his relentless passion and deep conviction would lead him to preach to an estimated 100 million people across the globe, changing countless lives.

But the story doesn’t end there. Moody’s conversion sparked a chain reaction that would ripple through history in ways Edward Kimball could never have imagined. D.L. Moody’s ministry influenced F.B. Meyer, a fellow minister, who then reached J. Wilbur Chapman for Christ. Chapman, in turn, mentored a fiery evangelist named Billy Sunday, whose dynamic preaching style captivated audiences. Through Billy Sunday’s influence, Mordecai Ham became a passionate preacher, and in 1934, during one of Ham’s revivals, yet another young man gave his life to Christ—a man by the name of Billy Graham.

Billy Graham would go on to become one of the greatest evangelists of the 20th century, reaching millions with the gospel of Jesus Christ and continuing the legacy that began with a Sunday school teacher’s quiet obedience.

Edward Kimball likely never imagined the far-reaching effects of his decision to share Christ with a single student in a shoe store. Yet his faithfulness reminds us of an incredible truth—no act of faith is too small in the Father’s hands. The ripple effects of a simple conversation, a kind word, or a bold step of obedience can echo far beyond what we can see, touching lives and transforming generations.

Edward Kimball’s story serves as a powerful reminder that God can use anyone, in any role, to carry out His divine plan. When we step out in faith, even in small ways, we allow God to work through us in ways that can shape history. His life reminds us that there, indeed, are no minor characters in the kingdom of God—only faithful servants with hearts willing to follow. Never underestimate the result of sharing the love of the Lord Jesus Christ with just one person. His Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11).

Ponder for a moment and play the “what if” game. What would have happened if Edward Kimball had not followed the Father’s leading on that April day in 1855 and decided he had better things to do?

Minor characters are nothing of the sort in the kingdom of God. Each child of the King is a work of art, a masterpiece that demonstrates the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ for all time and eternity.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

REFLECT & PRAY

There are no minor characters in God’s kingdom.

Father, remind me often that I am deeply cherished in Your sight and that You have appointed kingdom work for me. Strengthen my heart to fulfill the assignment You’ve placed before me and lead me to the next.

INSIGHT

The Bible is filled with individuals who may seem like “minor characters” but contribute in profound ways to God’s work. Take, for example, Tertius. While Paul was the author and the voice behind the message, it was Tertius who served as his scribe and physically wrote it down, serving as Paul’s scribe. Romans 16:22 gives us this fascinating glimpse into Tertius’s role, as he writes, “I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.”

During the first century, a scribe was called an amanuensis. They were often employed to transcribe the words of others. They served much like modern-day stenographers, capturing someone else’s thoughts and translating them into lasting records. These scribes played vital roles, though they often remained unrecognized. Tertius might seem like an obscure figure, but he is actually the writer of Paul’s magnum opus, the magnificent book of Romans. Not too bad for a “minor character!”

Then there’s Timothy, one of Paul’s most trusted companions. Timothy wasn’t just a faithful helper; he was someone Paul described with rare and tender praise. Writing to the Philippians, Paul says, “I have no one like him, who will genuinely care for your welfare. For others seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:20-21).

It’s surprising that not many people realize the Bible addresses the issue of excessive self-love or narcissism. Paul points out that many individuals exhibit these traits. Timothy, however, was an exception. He was one of the many seemingly ordinary minor characters who proved to be extraordinary.

What made Timothy extraordinary? The Greek word translated as no one like him, kindred spirit, like-minded is isopsuchos. This is a scarce word, only used once in the New Testament. Isopsuchos comes from isos – “equal” and psuche – “soul, mind.” It has the sense to be “activated by the same motives,” “of like character,” and “like-minded.” It could be literally translated “like-souled.”

It captures the extraordinary bond between Paul and Timothy—a bond so deep that they shared not only faith but also heart, motive, and mission. You might say in everyday English, “They were cut from the same piece of cloth.”

Paul could trust Timothy completely, knowing that Timothy would represent him and Jesus Christ with the utmost integrity, even when Paul couldn’t be present.

Timothy’s life stood in stark contrast to those consumed by selfish ambition. He genuinely cared for the well-being of others and lived with a singular focus—to serve Christ. According to William Barclay, “Others might be consumed with selfish ambition, but Timothy’s one desire was to serve Paul and Jesus Christ. He is the patron saint of all those who are quite content with second place, as long as they can serve”

Both Tertius and Timothy remind us of a powerful truth about life in God’s kingdom. There are no minor roles or small tasks. Every action done in service to Christ, no matter how invisible to the world, carries eternal significance. Whether it’s the diligent work of writing down divinely inspired words or the steadfast faithfulness of serving others, each contribution matters deeply.

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© Dr. H 2025