“As God’s partners, we beg you not to reject this marvelous message of God’s great kindness. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation. We try to live in such a way that no one will be hindered from finding the Lord by the way we act, and so no one can find fault with our ministry. In everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit. We have faithfully preached the truth. God’s power has been working in us. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are well known, but we are treated as unknown. We live close to death, but here we are, still alive. We have been beaten within an inch of our lives. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.” 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 (NLT)
This passage is so full of meaning and wisdom that it will require several readings and lots of meditation to harvest its fruit. May I suggest that you read these verses from different biblical versions? Such an exercise will enable you to think broadly and gain the full effect intended by the Holy Spirit.
While we are not all preachers, pastors, and ordained clergy, we are all God’s partners. And his partners want to please him. “In everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God.” Patience shows it. Determination shows it. Loyalty shows it. Humility shows it. Service shows it. Honesty shows it. Reputation shows it. Righteousness shows it. Lifestyle shows it. Courage shows it. Joy shows it. What we teach shows it. Our victory shows it. In summary, “the proof of the pudding” is in who we are, what we do, and how we live.
Dear Father, thank you for your mercy and grace. May we have your grace in our lives today to show that we are truly your ministers? This I ask in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his grace and live to his glory,