Few passages have influenced my ministry as much as this one has. I can still remember reading these words while in seminary and having a sense of real purpose. “Therefore,” says Paul, “since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God…For we do not proclaim (or preach) ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5).
Yesterday I talked about the competence for ministry that we receive from God. I quoted a professor of mine who said that only God can make us good enough to carry out God’s will. In today’s reading Paul seems to take that notion a step further. Even when things are not going well, when we are challenged or encounter difficult situations we remain faithful and full of hope. Why? Because the ministry in which we are engaged comes to us from God. It is a gracious gift that provides shape and purpose to our living. We have a place to fit in and a job to do. In response to this gift we, in turn, are called to reject all manner of falseness, all manipulation or deceit and to remain truthful about God’s word, that which we proclaim in Jesus Christ.
We have a purpose. There is a reason for us to get up in the morning and to embrace each new day. As God’s people we are blessed with a message of salvation and grace, one that need not be adapted or adjusted. It is simply to be shared. How will you live our your purpose today? How will you go about sharing the good news? It’s worth thinking about.
Prayer: Lord, your word is truth. Help us to share it with the world openly and with conviction. Amen.
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