--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 26th June 1939—. . . Today I read by…" description: "\"“26th June 1939—. . . Today I read by chance in II Timothy 4, “Do thy diligence to come before winter,” Paul’s petition to Timothy. Timothy is to share..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/eric-metaxas-1651_bible_26th-june-1939-today-i-read-by-chance-in_2438958.jpg" --- # 26th June 1939—. . . Today I read by chance in II Timothy… ![“26th June 1939—. . . Today I read by chance in II Timothy 4, “Do thy diligence to come before winter,” Paul’s petition to Timothy. Timothy is to share the suffering of the apostle and not to be ashamed. “Come before winter”—otherwise it might be too late. That has been in my mind all day. It is…” quote by Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/eric-metaxas-1651_bible_26th-june-1939-today-i-read-by-chance-in_2438958.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/eric-metaxas-1651_bible_26th-june-1939-today-i-read-by-chance-in_2438958.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/eric-metaxas-1651_bible_26th-june-1939-today-i-read-by-chance-in_2438958.jpg) > ““26th June 1939—. . . Today I read by chance in II Timothy 4, “Do thy diligence to come before winter,” Paul’s petition to Timothy. Timothy is to share the suffering of the apostle and not to be ashamed. “Come before winter”—otherwise it might be too late. That has been in my mind all day. It is for us as it is for soldiers, who come home on leave from the front but who, in spite of all their expectations, long to be back at the front again. We cannot get away from it any more. Not because we are necessary, or because we are useful (to God?), but simply because that is where our life is, and because we leave our life behind, destroy it, if we cannot be in the midst of it again. It is nothing pious, more like some vital urge. But God acts not only by means of pious emotions, but also through vital ones. “Come before winter”—it is not a misuse of Scripture if I take that to be said to me. If God gives me grace to do it.”” [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A call to act before it’s too late, driven by deep purpose rather than duty alone. **In simple terms:** Act now before opportunity passes. Key Takeaway Embrace urgent purpose. Themes purpose urgency spirituality service Mood determined reflective Type inspirational spiritual When to use this quote - military service - personal vocation - spiritual decision - life purpose Key Concepts vital urge grace scriptural interpretation Questions to Reflect On - What urgent call are you ignoring? - How does purpose outweigh comfort? A Different Perspective May overlook practical constraints and personal safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) [Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winter/) ## Related quotes > [When our whole life is one faith, hope, love, prayer and silence, a consecrated life always bound up in the Eucharist, then the 'urge'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/when-our-whole-life-is-one-faith-hope-love-prayer-and-silence-a/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [“Come O' winter knock my door, Make me fall in love once more, Look what Autumn did to me, Made my soul like wilted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymat-khan/come-o-winter-knock-my-door-make-me-fall-in-love-once-more-look-what/) [Neymat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymat-khan/) > [“At the lip of a cliff, I look out over Lake Superior, through the bare branches of birches and the snow-covered branches of aspens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/at-the-lip-of-a-cliff-i-look-out-over-lake-superior-through-the-bare/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) > [“The time will come when Winter will ask you what you were doing all Summer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-time-will-come-when-winter-will-ask-you-what-you-were-doing-all/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [The time will come when winter will ask what you were doing all summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-time-will-come-when-winter-will-ask-what-you-were-doing-all-summer/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [“If you don’t invite God to be your summer Guest, He won’t come in the winter of your life.’” “Dear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/if-you-don-t-invite-god-to-be-your-summer-guest-he-won-t-come-in-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“We want the spring to come and the winter to pass. 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Not because we are necessary, or because we are useful (to God?), but simply because that is where our life is, and because we leave our life behind, destroy it, if we cannot be in the midst of it again. It is nothing pious, more like some vital urge. But God acts not only by means of pious emotions, but also through vital ones. “Come before winter”—it is not a misuse of Scripture if I take that to be said to me. 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