It isn’t always the case that the fears of a crisis are unfounded. Just occasionally it is as bad as you fear, but still Paul’s advice holds firm: Keep your Head. There are challenging and fearful times in ministry and church life, but rarely is an instant reaction the right reaction. Quick decisions are often bad decisions and being willing just to take time often gives perspective enough to avoid making the situation worse. Be sober minded and keep your head in all circumstances.

“If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you“

In a sports match the shout goes up, “Just keep your heads” to the team clinging on to a lead.

In Paul’s Charge to Timothy, in 2 Timothy 4:5, in the midst of the duties that Timothy is to discharge, comes the call ‘Keep your head in all circumstances’ . The ESV translates it “always be sober minded”. It’s in the context of giving oneself to ministering to God’s people: preaching the Word in the midst of itching ears that only want to hear what they want to hear; enduring preaching in good bad times and bad; enduring hardship and doing the work of an evangelist.

Paul speaks to Timothy and he says don’t be shocked and don’t be thrown, be sober minded, keep your head in the midst of that. Don’t be surprised when people don’t want to hear you and don’t like you or what you’ve got to say. Don’t be rocked by that.

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