“We put no stumbling block in
anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather,
as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in
troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots;
in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding,
patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in
truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of
righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and
dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as
impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten,
and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making
many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” 2
Corinthians 6:3-10.
The
Apostle Paul endured great hardship for the sake of the Gospel. He did so for
the cause of Christ and for the sake of the Church: “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in
my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the
sake of his body, which is the church.” Colossians 1:24.
Paul
presents the Gospel and while it is magnificent and glorious all on its own, the
Gospel goes out to gather believers into worship and place them into a position
to fulfill their highest purpose; to be true followers of Christ, becoming more
like Him, manifesting spiritual fruit, bringing glorify to God:
“I have become its servant by
the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its
fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and
generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen
to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery,
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:25-27.
Paul
abandoned the world, using his resources, giving all glory to God. Paul gave
all of his resources, his time and energy, for the sake of the Gospel and glory
of God in Christ and the welfare and growth of the body of Christ: “He is the one we proclaim,
admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may
present everyone fully mature in Christ.” Colossians 1:28.
No one
can deny that Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ. He was called to preach the Gospel
to all who had ears to hear. His authority came from God and not from other
humans: “To this end I
strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in
me.” Colossians 1:29.
The Bible
teaches that the church has an exclusive work on earth, bringing of the lost to
God through Christ. This is accomplished through evangelism, edification, and giving
to those in need. Jesus said, "Go
preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15. Paul reproved the
church: "So it is with you. Since
you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the
church." I Corinthians 14:12. The church is to practice giving,
and in this way to bear one another's burdens. It's important to be willing to
give, both to the Lord and His Church and to other people in need: “the righteous give without sparing.”
Proverbs 21:26.
God
gives us grace to rest. We need to let go and stop trying to control everything. Christianity is not a works based faith, where we labor to gain
approval from God. However, the call to rest in Christ is not a call to laziness.
The first step to action requires awareness and seeing the need of those around
you. Many people start something but do not finish it. It is a rare and beautiful
experience to carry out the responsibility to finish the thing God has called
you to do. Sometimes the change we need to make in ourselves begins when we start
with helping those around us. What it that God has put in your heart, seeing
the need, His call to you for action?
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