A LIFE THAT COMMENDS GOD’S MINISTRY

Passage: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Key verse: 3

NIV

6 As God’s co-workers(A) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.(B) 2 For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[a](C)

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,(D) so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments(E) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;(F) 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit(G) and in sincere love;(H) 7 in truthful speech(I) and in the power of God;(J) with weapons of righteousness(K) in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor,(L) bad report(M) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;(N) 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,(O) and yet we live on;(P) beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;(Q) poor, yet making many rich;(R) having nothing,(S) and yet possessing everything.(T)

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.(U) 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children(V)—open wide your hearts(W) also.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

6 (A)Working together with him, then, (B)we appeal to you (C)not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,

(D)“In a favorable time I listened to you,
    and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, (E)now is the (F)favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We (G)put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but (H)as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: (I)by great endurance, (J)in afflictions, (K)hardships, calamities, 5 (L)beatings, imprisonments, (M)riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 (N)by purity, (O)knowledge, patience, kindness, (P)the Holy Spirit, (Q)genuine love; 7 by (R)truthful speech, and (S)the power of God; with (T)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, (U)through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and (V)yet well known; (W)as dying, and behold, we live; (X)as punished, and yet not killed; 10 (Y)as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; (Z)as poor, yet making many rich; (AA)as having nothing, (AB)yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you,[a] Corinthians; (AC)our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but (AD)you are restricted in your own affections. 13 (AE)In return (I speak (AF)as to children) widen your hearts also.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 6:11 Greek Our mouth is open to you
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Because salvation is available to all people today in the gospel, Paul and his fellow gospel workers made up their minds not to put a “stumbling block” in anyone’s way. Practically, it means they decided to keep their lives pure, to speak only the truth, and to endure every type of hardship with patience, so that everyone could see that their ministry was genuine. They suffered much to live this way. But even though they seemed poor and downtrodden, they were spiritually rich and victorious conquerors. This is what spiritual greatness looks like.

Paul’s life of serving also showed the sincerity of his heart and the genuineness of his love for the people he served. It pained Paul greatly to see people in the churches get caught up in bitter disputing and judging. It showed that their hearts were still narrow and petty. He urged them to consider his example and love each other with wide-open hearts.

Prayer: Father, thank you for calling me as your servant. Give me a clear attitude to serve patiently with love and win the spiritual victory.

One Word: As servants of God we have everything