3 我 們 凡 事 都 不 叫 人 有 妨 礙 ， 免 得 這 職 分 被 人 毀 謗 ；
4 反 倒 在 各 樣 的 事 上 表 明 自 己 是 神 的 用 人 ， 就 如 在 許 多 的 忍 耐 、 患 難 、 窮 乏 、 困 苦 、
5 鞭 打 、 監 禁 、 擾 亂 、 勤 勞 、 儆 醒 、 不 食 、
6 廉 潔 、 知 識 、 恆 忍 、 恩 慈 、 聖 靈 的 感 化 、 無 偽 的 愛 心 、
7 真 實 的 道 理 、 神 的 大 能 ； 仁 義 的 兵 器 在 左 在 右 ；
8 榮 耀 、 羞 辱 ， 惡 名 、 美 名 ； 似 乎 是 誘 惑 人 的 ， 卻 是 誠 實 的 ；
9 似 乎 不 為 人 所 知 ， 卻 是 人 所 共 知 的 ； 似 乎 要 死 ， 卻 是 活 著 的 ； 似 乎 受 責 罰 ， 卻 是 不 至 喪 命 的 ；
10 似 乎 憂 愁 ， 卻 是 常 常 快 樂 的 ； 似 乎 貧 窮 ， 卻 是 叫 許 多 人 富 足 的 ； 似 乎 一 無 所 有 ， 卻 是 樣 樣 都 有 的 。
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our
ministry will not be discredited. 4Rather, 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; 7in 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.
Paul determines to live out his life as being the servant of God that his ministry will not be discredited and no one will be stumbled. He especially stresses on how his ministry is to be persevered through difficulties - troubles, hardships, and distresses; how he suffered through his enemies - beatings, imprisonments, and riots; and how he volunteers himself to suffer for God - hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger. Paul goes on to state explicitly the qualities of being the servant of God - purity, understanding, patience and kindness. All these life characteristics are presupposed on the Holy Spirit, sincere love, truthful speech, and the power of God. Spirit-filled life and the power of the Spirit is manifested together in the context of distresses, sufferings, persecutions, and sacrifices for Jesus.
My Lord, I know that I am still far from being a servant of God like Paul. Paul models himself as an example of a servant of Jesus. I pray that I live out my life in the Spirit and manifest the Power of Spirit as I continue this journey of seeking for the Presence of the Spirit. My Spirit, continue to strengthen my faith in walking after You and also deepening my desire to seek your presence in the midst of hardships and unforeseen future of my life.
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