Are We Willing?

DEVOTION

2 CORINTHIANS

ARE WE WILLING?

2 Cor 6:3-10

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, 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 and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

NIV

How many of us would be willing to live that kind of life? It seems we cannot even give up just one of our creature comforts for the sake of another’s soul. It might also be said of us that we are so unwilling to have anyone think poorly of us that we have built a great defensive wall around ourselves and are unwilling to speak up about the damnation they face if they do not accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Why do we what our “good” life so much instead of wanting to do the will of God? We proclaim all the verses of scripture which promise us all the material blessings, but somehow leave out ones like this which show us we might need to give them all up in order to fulfill God’s mission for our life. Maybe we should be operating more in the Spirit then in the flesh. Maybe we should be living completely sold out for God, instead of trying to fit him into our own plans for life. Losing a job, because of being outspoken about God is not quite as bad as being beaten and run out of town. Having people think we are fanatics about Jesus, is nowhere near imprisonments and riots. How many sleepless nights have we struggled with because of our desires to spread the gospel? Do we guard our reputation using “being a good witness” as an excuse or is it because we just do not want people hating us because we have spoken the truth. We can be absolutely sure Paul did not just live a nice life hoping someone would see that he lives a little different than them as ask him why. We can be sure he came to town speaking the truth out loud and for everyone to here. He did not just seek out where there might be others who believed and hung around with them. He went to the places where the pagans were, and spoke about Jesus. Sure it is true some of them did not like his words and not only spoke out against him but treated him harshly, almost to death. We applaud him and are amazed by his commitment to the gospel, all the while still living our “good” life unwilling to sacrifice how we live one little bit for the sake of the gospel. There are times we must give up something we want to do, in order to serve the needs of others, even pagans, so we can speak the message of salvation. Are we willing?