When the shepherd stops guarding the flock, there is calamity. Israel had a good shepherd, especially under King David. Then, as prophesied in chapter 11 of Zechariah, the shepherds would actually devalue God’s greatest gift to the nation (Messiah). Instead they sold him for 30 pieces of silver to buy the Potter’s field.

For the price of some real estate, the nation of Israel entered disgrace. God was faithful, however, by choosing a descendant of David to sit on His eternal throne. All the suffering that Jesus endured was not in vain. In fact, the glory at the end of this age will be like none other. #peoplefromeverytribenationandtongue

My prayer is that we would live by the truth, not in fanciful hopes of building temporal wealth for generations. There is nothing so valuable as a godly heritage, clinging to God’s Word. #truth

Let’s honor those pastors and shepherds who have gone before us. They kept us safe from the “dogs” by teaching God’s word faithfully. They also served faithfully without fleecing the flock (for their generational wealth or earthly kingdom).

Most of all, let’s honor the ONE who gave all, even when we were still sinners…Christ Jesus, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. -Teresa #receiveHim

Zechariah 10:3-5 (ESV)

 “My anger is hot against the shepherds,
    and I will punish the leaders;^[a]
for the Lord of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah,
    and will make them like his majestic steed in battle.
⁴ From him shall come the cornerstone,
    from him the tent peg,
from him the battle bow,
    from him every ruler—all of them together.
⁵ They shall be like mighty men in battle,
    trampling the foe in the mud of the streets;
they shall fight because the Lord is with them,
    and they shall put to shame the riders on horses….

Zechariah 11:1-14 (ESV)

11 Open your doors, O Lebanon,
    that the fire may devour your cedars!
² Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen,
    for the glorious trees are ruined!
Wail, oaks of Bashan,
    for the thick forest has been felled!
³ The sound of the wail of the shepherds,
    for their glory is ruined!
The sound of the roar of the lions,
    for the thicket of the Jordan is ruined!

⁴ Thus said the Lord my God: “Become shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter.⁵ Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the Lord, I have become rich,’ and their own shepherds have no pity on them. ⁶ For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of this land, declares the Lord. Behold, I will cause each of them to fall into the hand of his neighbor, and each into the hand of his king, and they shall crush the land, and I will deliver none from their hand.”

⁷ So I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to be slaughtered by the sheep traders. And I took two staffs, one I named Favor, the other I named Union. And I tended the sheep. ⁸ In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me. ⁹ So I said, “I will not be your shepherd. What is to die, let it die. What is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who are left devour the flesh of one another.” ¹⁰ And I took my staff Favor, and I broke it, annulling the covenant that I had made with all the peoples.¹¹ So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the Lord. ¹² Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. ¹³ Then the Lordsaid to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter. ¹⁴ Then I broke my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

Here is an excerpt from BibleHub.com:

2. The Role of True Shepherds

Zechariah 11 highlights the importance of genuine leadership. God appoints shepherds to guide His flock, but when these leaders fail, the people suffer. “Woe to the worthless shepherd who deserts the flock!” (Zechariah 11:17). This lesson encourages us to seek leaders who are committed to God’s truth and to be discerning in whom we follow.

Becoming a grandparent for the first time was nothing short of joyful. You all can understand or at least imagine the preciousness of this time of life. I saw a meme on FB this week showing the superpower of grandparents to those they influence. It’s a miraculous connection.

Yet, our thoughts toward our grandchildren are nothing compared with Creator God’s thoughts toward us (see the verses from David in Psalm 139). 👇🏻

When Zerubbabel was chosen by God to rebuild the former temple, the prophet Haggai revealed a future glory spoken of in Revelation. Yes, the Messiah, Christ Jesus the LORD will reign forever and ever. I can imagine Handel’s Messiah reverberating throughout this scene.

Whether God’s choice was David (for King), Haggai (for prophet), or Joshua (for priest)- we can imagine the culmination of this foreshadowing as being summed up in Christ (Prophet, Priest and King of Kings).

This quote was taken from the BibleHub website about the passage in Haggai.

“Zerubbabel—Signet of Choice (vv 20–23)

Jeremiah 22:24 stripped Jehoiachin (Zerubbabel’s grandfather) of the signet. God now reinstates the symbol, whispering that the Davidic line remains valid. Though Zerubbabel never reigned as king, the Gospels trace Messiah’s lineage through him (Luke 3:27).”https://biblehub.com/haggai/2.htm

Just picture the silver and gold of God’s temple in Heaven as “treasure” from every people group on earth. Those who come to faith in Christ are the “treasure” in God’s kingdom.

Yes, remember that you are precious to Him. Never doubt His thoughts toward you. #beforebirth

As we celebrate Jesus’ birth this week, we should continue praying for God’s kingdom to come (His thoughts and intentions toward us). -Teresa #PeaceonEarth #setapartforHim

(Bold added for emphasis)

Haggai 2: 1-9, 20-23 ESV

The Coming Glory of the Temple

2 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: ² “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, ³ ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? ⁴ Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, ⁵ according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. ⁶ For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. ^{7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace,} declares the Lord of hosts.’”

²⁰ …The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month,²¹ “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, ²² and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. ²³ On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a^[c] signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”

Footnotes

1. Haggai 2:15 Or backward; also verse 18
2. Haggai 2:16 Probable reading (compare Septuagint); Hebrew Lord, since they were. When
3. Haggai 2:23 Hebrew the

Revelation 11:15-19 ESV

The Seventh Trumpet

¹⁵ Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” ¹⁶ And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, ¹⁷ saying,

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
    who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
    and begun to reign.
¹⁸ The nations raged,
    but your wrath came,
    and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
    and those who fear your name,
    both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

¹⁹ Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings,^[c] peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Revelation 11:7 Or the abyss
2. Revelation 11:8 Greek spiritually
3. Revelation 11:19 Or voices, or sounds

Psalm 139: 13-18 ESV

13 For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.^[a]
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
    I awake, and I am still with you.

Footnotes

1. Psalm 139:14 Or for I am fearfully set apart

Our daughters literally glow because of God’s beauty in their lives. It reminds me of the scene in heaven described by the Apostle John.

Our Creator and Lord sitting on the throne of authority is a beautiful scene because it depicts all that is right in God’s eyes. His presence is beautiful and holy.

The offerings of glory, honor and thanks to Him who is, who was and who is to come are beautiful because of the truth in worship.

Who is worthy to receive glory, honor and power? Only our Creator is worthy, He also is the One who provides righteousness to all He created.

Now, that is truly beautiful!!- Teresa #reflectingHisglory

Revelation 4 (New Living Translation)

Worship in Heaven

4 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” ² And instantly I was in the Spirit,^[a] and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. ³ The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. ⁴ Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit^[b] of God. ⁶ In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. ⁷ The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. ⁸ Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
    the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

⁹ Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

¹¹ “You are worthy, O Lord our God,
    to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
    and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. 4:2 Or in spirit.
2. 4:5 Greek They are the seven spirits.

Some days are meant for full speed ahead.

Like today, I was making a hot drink at 3:15 am, helping with my mom’s medical care (via telephone) by 4:30 am, walking to Peet’s and chatting with friends all drinking coffee at 6:30 am, walking with my husband and praying at 0730 am, picking out Christmas trees with our grandkids by 0900 am, finishing the decorating and eating fresh baked banana bread by 10:30 am! Now, I’m wondering why my usual energetic brain is taking a little siesta while writing my blog. 🥱

Getting ready for a big event means we need to pace ourselves. The more ritual or routine we involve, means more time that our hearts and minds are freed up to ponder God’s goodness.

This Psalm was such a representation. At every feast day, the children of Israel would ascend to Jerusalem and recite these words.

How comforting to know they were surrounded by God as the mountains surrounded their beloved city. Talk about a visual aid!

What visual aid or beautiful song is helping you to center around God’s truth?

Dan Hill’s “Sometimes When We touch”

This song helped me this week to remember the honesty of my “first love”, when the gospel of Christ’s love touched my teenage soul. #heartfelt

Remember how valuable you are to our Father God, because of His gift at Christmas. #HisSon- Teresa

Psalm 125 (NLT)

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

¹ Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion;
    they will not be defeated but will endure forever.
² Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.
³ The wicked will not rule the land of the godly,
    for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.
⁴ O Lord, do good to those who are good,
    whose hearts are in tune with you.
⁵ But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord.
    Take them away with those who do evil.

May Israel have peace!

Turkey Day is full of love and feasting. Giving thanks is part of this!

I was having an attitude with someone in the extended family as we got ready. In turn, they had an attitude with me. We hoped by not addressing the elephant in the room, we could still pull this feast day off.

Good news, we had a mediator to help this process of resolution. Prayers and wisdom preceded a miraculous turn around just 1.5 hours prior to guest arrival. #T-1.5

It was obvious that my heart was moved by God Himself to offer repentance, which helped turn the tide in favor of resolution and joy. Who said that it would be easy?

Truly, we felt so blessed to have this relationship restored for God’s glory and just in time to give God thanks for all our blessings.

What will it take for you to understand things, God’s way? Ask Him for wisdom and ask those you trust for prayers. He will not disappoint as He is patient beyond measure. -Teresa #Godshowedup #intime #reflectHim

2 Peter 3:8-11 (ESV)

⁸ But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,^[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies^[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.^[c]

¹¹ Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, ¹² waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! ¹³ But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Footnotes

1. 2 Peter 3:9 Some manuscripts on your account
2. 2 Peter 3:10 Or elements; also verse 12
3. 2 Peter 3:10 Greek found; some manuscripts will be burned up

There are times when we celebrate (like the picture above, at the wedding of my niece). Then, there are times we grieve (like the pic👇 at my brother’s grave).

My mom has experienced both the grief of a child going to heaven before her and the glory of celebrating at the wedding of her granddaughter, 23 years apart.

Without Christ, we would be hopeless but with Christ Jesus our Lord we have been born again to a living hope.

It’s described as imperishable, undefiled and unfading (because our inheritance is kept in heaven) and we are being guarded through faith until we see the salvation of our souls.

A faith that is being tested -as to whether or not it is genuine-for the praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

If our Savior experienced suffering and then glory, if the prophets who longed to look into what we see in the Scriptures and those who have preached this good news have done so faithfully under great duress for our glory, how much more should we persevere in the grievous trials we experience.

It may be for a future generation as well- our grandchildren!

Being born again to a living hope means that we also can go through our griefs as those who are secure in our eternal inheritance. -Teresa #filledwithglory #inexpressiblejoy #Heisrisenindeed

I Peter 1:3-12 ESV

Born Again to a Living Hope

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, ¹¹ inquiring what person or time^[a] the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. 1 Peter 1:11 Or what time or circumstances

These beautiful evergreens have come to bring me so much joy. We sometimes call them the “Dr. Seuss“ trees.

I was talking about one thing that I would change about myself. Spotting those trees, I decided I would not change that thing at all- it’s where my joy comes from.

What society may see as a flaw or imperfection, God has allowed in me for His good pleasure.

Don’t refuse God, the ONE who speaks truth into your life. Instead, put some joy into it.

Do you have a quality about yourself that others may want to change? Be sure to check with God first to see if He put it there for a reason.

If our faith is childlike, then we will see things more clearly than the most learned scholar.

Be certain you are trusting the ONE who has authority over creation. His kingdom (and rationale) is unshakable! -Teresa

Hebrews 12:22-29 (NLT)

²² No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. ²³ You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.²⁴ You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

²⁵ Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! ²⁶ When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”^[d] 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

²⁸ Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. ²⁹ For our God is a devouring fire.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. 12:18 Greek to something that can be touched.
2. 12:20 Exod 19:13.
3. 12:21 Deut 9:19.
4. 12:26 Hag 2:6.

The ritualistic sacrifices of Judaism (in the Old Testament) pointed to something much greater. Even the specification of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies were followed up to the minute details of the tent materials and vessels of bronze.

They may not have seen Christ Jesus the Lord as clearly as those in the “Church Age”, but the shadow of things to come was being illuminated by God the Father.

Even so, in our day and age, the fog may descend on us and keep us from seeing clearly the central role of our Savior. Ultimately, the truth will shine on us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

When we understand the powerful work of redemption on our behalf, then we will rejoice at our great high priest who has mediated this eternal inheritance established for us through the new covenant.

As the fog of a sin sick world descends around us, may we look to our Heavenly Father to purify our hearts and minds as we trust His Son to cleanse and redeem. -Teresa #powerinthebloodofthelamb

Hebrews 9: 11-22 (ESV)

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come,^[e] then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) ¹² he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. ¹³ For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify^[f] for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our^[g] conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

¹⁵ Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^[h] 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.¹⁹ For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” ²¹ And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. ²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

It’s fun for kids to dress up and trick-or-treat. Back in the day, we would make up our own costumes. Many times they ended up being a combination of favorite T-shirts and something impressive.

There’s wisdom in the Proverb that speaks about hatred cloaking itself (like a Halloween costume). It tries to impress outwardly but is truly unimpressive, morally.

The good news, is that it will all be revealed in the end.

With deceit, the hate-filled person may try to cover up their motives, but those who look at the “fruit” of said life will not be duped.

Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7, KJV)

Corruption is the result of not yielding to the Spirit of God. Life everlasting is the promise to every believer under the Holy Spirit’s control. (Galatians 6:8)

You may wonder how to come under God’s influence. First, you must believe that Christ Jesus is God’s Son who is able to pay for the salvation of everyone born under sin’s curse=death spiritually (includes all descendants of Adam).

When you receive Christ as Savior and LORD, you are born into God’s family (and given a new start).

To whom will you yield your life today? Is it to your own fleshly desires or to the Spirit of God who is in you? (upon spiritual rebirth, we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit of God).

Even so-called “Christians” (i.e. in name only) can be given over to hatred. In the end, corruption will be their reward.

Lord, may I be quick to yield myself to Your Spirit. Please reveal those around me who may sound gracious but in actuality have abominably tricky lips. -Teresa

Proverbs 26:24-26English Standard Version

²⁴ Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
    and harbors deceit in his heart;
²⁵ when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
    for there are seven abominations in his heart;
²⁶ though his hatred be covered with deception,
    his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Read full chapter

Although I love the look of this modern lampshade in my hotel room, it does not function well as a mirror!

This passage brought to mind the importance of not just teaching to encourage others but at times to reprove or convince others of truth. This “convincing” may be misunderstood as an accusation (aka rebuke) when in actuality it may be what is needed to convince or drive a point home.

It’s stated well here@ BibleHub.com (parenthetical word added for context). “The word in this verse rendered “reprove,” does not imply (rebuke), but merely that one may be in error, and needs to have arguments presented to convince him of the truth. That word also implies no superior authority in him who does it. He presents “reasons, or argues” the case, for the purpose of convincing. The word here rendered rebuke, implies authority or superiority, and means merely that we may say that a thing is wrong, and administer a rebuke for it, as if there were no doubt that it was wrong. The propriety of the rebuke rests on our authority for doing it, not on the arguments which we present. This is based on the presumption that men often Know that they are doing wrong, and need no arguments to convince them of it.”

An effective leader knows when to teach using a method of reproving vs. rebuking and what type of audience should witness either one. For example, when a subordinate rebukes an authority figure, the effective leader must discern whether they are acting out of spite or ignorance. If ignorance, then it’s best to set aside the personal humiliation (if the incident occurs in public) to exemplify that the subordinate is valued (i.e. the leader is preventing the other’s demise and modeling the truth). On the other hand, if it’s expressed out of spite, an immediate meeting in private is the best outcome to effectively demonstrate the error of their thinking and the subordinate will be won over.

No matter how modern and appealing some teaching is, if it cannot convince us of truth (i.e. the truth always ends with love), then it is not sound.

Have I loved His appearing as Paul did? Christ is ultimately the righteous judge whose reward means all. He is the One who gives a crown of endurance to those who suffer for His name’s sake. -Teresa #fulfillyourministry

2 Timothy 4:1-8 (ESV)

4 I 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; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ³ For the time is coming when people will not endure sound^[a]teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ⁴ and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. ⁵ But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.