6:1 ¶ We then, as workers together with
him, beseech you also
that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of
salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much
patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in
labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By
pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by
love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth,
by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on
the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by
evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown,
and yet well known; as dying,
and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor,
yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
As ambassadors of Christ we are working with Him in this ministry
of reconciliation to God and should behave ourselves in a way that is becoming
to the mission of the gospel, to save men and women. God has displayed a great
deal of grace toward us. We should give no offence, that is, cause anyone to
stumble over the word. We, our lives, are to be a testimony to the power and
love of Christ, presenting the word of God clearly and in truth.
Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for
it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
We must not act in such a way as to bring shame on the cause of
the gospel of Christ. Remember how Nathan told David about how his behavior
brought shame on the cause of God in Israel.
2Samuel 12:14a Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given
great occasion to the enemies of
the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely
die.
Sometimes our faith is revealed by how we deal with difficulties.
You will have no greater witness than how you bear the strife and trouble of
life. Paul here masterfully has a list that speaks for itself in the trouble
that can await a Christian who is living for Christ. We have to be thankful for
God’s grace as how many of us actually suffer the things he is speaking of?
What a triumph there is in his statements, particularly verse 10.
10
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as
having nothing, and yet
possessing all things.
How can we do this? How is this possible? Because as John says in
his first letter in 1John 4:4 greater is He that is in us than he that is in
the world.
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