THE KING’S BUSINESS
180
that is needed today. There were other things too in which Paul commended him self as a minister of God : “in pureness.” That needs no comment, but oh, how it needs exemplification. “In' knowledge,” not knowledge of philosophy or science (often “falsely so called”);, but of God’s truthf*v‘in long suffering” (pause here and question yourself) ; “in kindness” (this is a rare, but glorious virtue in this rushing, self-seeking generation) ;•-/“in the Holy, Ghost” (i. e., by the. manifestation of His graces, Gal. 5:22, 23, in. the life, and of- His power in service, Acts 1: 8 ) ; “in love unfeigned,” nothing more necessary in minister or Christian (cf. 1 Cor. 13 :1-7); “in the word of truth/’ i. e,, in the declara tion of the gospel of God and not one’s own speculations (ch. 4:2; Col. 1:5; 1 Thess. 2:13); “in the power of God,” not the power of natural gifts, or human learning, or eloquence. (1 Cor. 2:4; 2 Cor. 4:7). Thursday, February 21 . 2 Cor. 6:yb-io. Having mentioned the fifteen things “in” which he commended himself, Paul now follows with five “by,” or “through” ' which he'commended himself: (1) “By the armor 1 of righteousness (cf. Eph. 6:13-18) on thé right hand and on. the left,” guarded on every side. (2) “By glory” accorded to him, (3) and “by dis honor” heaped upon him. (4) “By evil report,” of unprincipled enemies, (5) and “by 1 good report,” of those who had real discernment. Paul was accounted a “deceiver,” but was and remained “true.” He was “unknown” by the mass of men, “yet well known” by God and by those who had the mind of God; he was ever “dying” (Acts 14:19;-ch. 1:8, 9; 4:10, 11; 11:23), but by the sustaining, delivering grace of God he could cry to his own amazement and to that of others, “Behold, we (still) live;” he was ever being “chas tened,” but not yet was he actually put. to death; he had many sorrows, yet he was “always rejoicing” in the midst of all these sorrows (cf. Phil. 4:4) ; he was “poor” yet he was constantly “making
prayer for His people (cf. John 17:9, 11, IS, 17, 20, 24), therefore we must not receive the .wondrous grace thus given in vain. Then Paul adds, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now' is the day of salvation.” Paul next describe^ the char acter of the ministry by which he entreated them. A wonderful ministry it was, and one worthy of all imitation by us today. First of all he gave “no occasion of stum bling in anything.” How many modern ' ministers can say that ? His purpose in giving no occasion of stumbling in anything was that his “ministration be not blamed.” He wished to remove everything that would stand in the way of the acceptance of the truth he preached and the Christ he pro claimed. Wednesday, February 20 . 2 Cor. 6:4-70. . Paul, so far from giving offense in any thing, by his actions recommended himself in everything, that his message might receive a favorable hearing. Now follows a wonderful list of things,: “in” which and “by” (or “through”) which he commended 'himself. There are nineteen things “in” which Paul commended himself : First, “in much patience.” “Patience” here means more'than we usually mean by it in our modern English usage, it means Steadfast endurance.' Now follow three triplets of hard experiences in which this steadfast endurance manifested itself: (1) “In afflictions” (rather, “tribulations”), “in necessities,” “in distresses” (rather, “straits”) ; (2) “In stripes” (cf. ch. 11:23, 24; Acts 16:23),'“in imprisonments” (Acts 16:24), “in tumults” (Acts. 13:50; 14:5; 19:16, 22; 19:23-31); (3) “in labors” i. e„ exhausting toil, cf. 1 Thess. 2 :9), “in ' watchings',” “in fastings” (not simply religious fastings, but also the going with out food because of necessity (1 Cor. 4:11; Phil. 4:12). There are many who are longing for a Pauline experience and Pauline ministry. Read the foregoing verses over carefully and tell God honestly - whether you really wish a Pauline ministry. But this is exactly the kind of ministry
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online