Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 6
2 Corinthians 6:4-10 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Here is a telling portion of Scripture about what it is to follow Jesus. Paul here gives a summary of what the apostolic ministry was really like. He is being honest with the Corinthians and trying to help them see that his suffering was for them and for the sake of Jesus Christ. There was much affliction and distress that he endured patiently. Not only was he thrown in prison for preaching Christ, but he was beaten. He had stayed up long nights praying and gone days fasting and praying for the will of God to be done in his life.
Even though he was treated in this way, he showed kindness to his persecutors and the Holy Spirit produced love as a fruit in his life. Paul here is not bragging at all, he is being very honest as he shows the lengths that Christ had taken him to get the word of God to the Gentiles. Paul had preached the word of truth in the power of God. He was in a constant battle and had put on the armor of righteousness. There were times when he had been in honor and there were times when he was held in dishonor. Some people spoke well of him and some spoke evil. He was accused of being dishonest and yet he always told the truth. In other words, he was misunderstood.
Paul’s life was close to death on several occasions and yet he was still alive. The chastening that he received was enough to make anyone despair but always the Holy Spirit in Paul was producing the fruit of the Spirit which is joy. He could rejoice in these times because he knew the Lord. Paul was not a wealthy man yet he made many rich as they received the Word of God and were made eternally wealthy.
Ministry has not changed since his day. It is challenging and difficult. When you preach Christ, you will be misunderstood. But you can rejoice because when you have Jesus, you possess all things! And when you preach Jesus others can make many rich!
In Christ,
Rody
