Be Instant in Season

The Flame

Paul names a specific, comprehensive instruction here, in season, out of season, both conditions named together, worth holding as this whole final movement’s own picture of what genuinely sustained faithfulness actually requires, not merely faithfulness when circumstances are favorable, in season, but equally, deliberately, out of season.

This is worth examining against however much your own faithfulness has been genuinely present in season, when circumstances, feelings, or convenience naturally support it, while quietly, gradually absent out of season, when circumstances no longer naturally, easily support the same level of devoted, consistent practice.

Notice with all longsuffering, the specific quality attached to this instruction, patient endurance across whatever extended difficulty out of season actually requires, not sudden, dramatic effort but sustained, patient consistency, the actual, practical shape genuine, long- term faithfulness this whole movement has been describing actually, concretely takes.

Consider today what remaining instant out of season specifically requires of you right now, in whatever season, favorable or unfavorable, you actually currently find yourself, trusting this verse’s own comprehensive instruction as the genuine, practical shape sustained devotion, across a whole life, actually, concretely requires.