Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
Having this ministry means being entrusted with the gospel as a sacred trust given only through God's mercy, and for that reason there is courage and strength not to lose heart. That mercy sustains its bearers every day through affliction, difficulty and danger, so that trouble brings no distress, perplexity no despair, persecution no abandonment, and being cast down no destruction. It calls for renouncing all hidden dishonesty and craftiness, refusing to handle God's Word deceitfully, and setting the truth plainly and fully before every conscience without withholding what is needed for salvation or softening it to please hearers. It preaches Christ Jesus as Lord and not self, holding the light of the knowledge of God's glory in Christ as treasure in earthen vessels so that the power is of God, while the gospel remains hid to the lost whose minds are blinded by the god of this world. This charge belongs to every believer personally, calling each one to represent the life and character of Christ in active earnest service with perseverance and untiring energy.
Mercy Sustains Unfainting Ministry
The ministry spoken of is the ministry of the gospel, a sacred trust entrusted through the mercy of God. Because it is received in this way by mercy, those entrusted with it possess reason and courage and strength not to lose heart and not to faint. That mercy gives perseverance rather than giving up, sustaining the minister through affliction and difficulty and danger.
This sustaining keeps trouble from becoming distress, perplexity from becoming despair, persecution from becoming abandonment, and being cast down from becoming destruction. The same mercy is to be enjoyed every day and every hour, to be talked of and dwelt upon, and living in that mercy keeps from giving up. While living in it, the ministry is to be carried forward and upward.
Not fainting means each one standing in his place in exalted privilege, revealing a high and holy character by active, wholly earnest religious service. It means perseverance and untiring energy which through grace is rewarded with success. That energy carries the triumphs of the cross to the very gates of the city of God.
Not fainting also means God's workmen are not discouraged in efforts to save souls even when those educated in error and darkness do not immediately respond.
Honest Open Proclamation
This ministry requires renouncing everything hidden and dishonest, refusing all craftiness and deceit, and refusing any deceitful handling or distortion of God's Word. It is to be carried out openly and honestly in the light, with ministers living and working according to the light they have received. They serve as workers together with God rather than complaining against Him, showing compassion and kindness instead of craftiness or deceit.
The truth is to be presented plainly, fully, clearly and openly before God to every person's conscience. Nothing needed for salvation is to be concealed or withheld, and teachings are not to be hidden to please hearers or to make the message less offensive. The minister's conduct is to agree with the message, living in harmony with the truth taught, so that the life as well as the word commends itself to conscience before God.
This ministry preaches Christ Jesus as Lord and not self, serving others for Jesus' sake rather than promoting self or acting from self-interest. Those entrusted with it receive in the heart the light that God commands to shine out of darkness, revealing the knowledge of His glory in Christ, and Christ's gospel brings that light of God's glory. This treasure is held in earthen vessels so that the excellency of the power is of God and not of self. They always bear about Jesus' dying in the body, so that His life is made manifest in mortal flesh.
Yet the gospel remains hidden to those who are lost, whose minds the god of this world has blinded against the light of Christ, who is the image of God. Those who bear the light of truth and righteousness therefore stand opposed to a world blinded to the gospel and governed by sin. These two parties cannot be united.
Applied to Every Believer
The instruction holds precious lessons for every believer and should be taken personally, calling for reflection on eternal concerns and humility before God, which meets spiritual deficiency in those called to teach the church. Having received mercy gives the church this ministry to represent the life and character of Jesus Christ, and therefore not to faint. Each member is to stand in place in exalted privilege, revealing the high and holy character of the church by active, wholly earnest religious service, with perseverance and untiring energy that through the grace of Christ is rewarded with success and carries the triumphs of the cross to the very gates of the city of God. The chapter containing the verse is instruction for parents to study and practice as their duty before God, guiding them as educators and ministers in representing Christ's character in their homes.
The ministry received by mercy must be held without fainting by renouncing secret evil, refusing trickery and deceitful use of God's word, and openly living the truth before every conscience in God's sight. For ministers and physicians joining the sanitarium, who are on trial while God measures the temple and its worshipers, this demands close work in families and refusal to weaken the principles of truth by imperfect lives. Then truth shines more brightly, makes free, and overcomes the world. Brought into daily life from above, it makes the character Christlike as partakers of the divine nature, seeking freedom from corruption in all associations and in schools, publishing houses, sanitariums, and food factories.
Having this ministry means having a day of solemn trust and sacred responsibilities and a work to do for God in diffusing great light. That work is done by talking of the lessons of Christ rather than starting arguments at once on doctrinal subjects, and by dealing wisely with souls for whom Christ paid the price of His own precious blood. God's workmen never faint nor are discouraged in efforts to save souls, even when those educated in error and darkness do not immediately respond. Faithful workmen show integrity and amiability of character and solid attainments in Christian growth, with advanced truth producing in the heart patience, faith, hope, and charity that leave a saving influence on minds. Their pity and Christlike patience, purity of heart, tenderness in word, and earnest fervent spirit reveal a living connection with God and prove they are branches of the true Vine because they bear rich clusters of fruit.
Having this ministry means being entrusted with the gospel as a sacred trust given only through God's mercy, and for that reason there is courage and strength not to lose heart. That mercy sustains its bearers every day through affliction, difficulty and danger, so that trouble brings no distress, perplexity no despair, persecution no abandonment, and being cast down no destruction. It calls for renouncing all hidden dishonesty and craftiness, refusing to handle God's Word deceitfully, and setting the truth plainly and fully before every conscience without withholding what is needed for salvation or softening it to please hearers. It preaches Christ Jesus as Lord and not self, holding the light of the knowledge of God's glory in Christ as treasure in earthen vessels so that the power is of God, while the gospel remains hid to the lost whose minds are blinded by the god of this world. This charge belongs to every believer personally, calling each one to represent the life and character of Christ in active earnest service with perseverance and untiring energy.
Mercy Sustains Unfainting Ministry
The ministry spoken of is the ministry of the gospel, a sacred trust entrusted through the mercy of God. Because it is received in this way by mercy, those entrusted with it possess reason and courage and strength not to lose heart and not to faint. That mercy gives perseverance rather than giving up, sustaining the minister through affliction and difficulty and danger.
This sustaining keeps trouble from becoming distress, perplexity from becoming despair, persecution from becoming abandonment, and being cast down from becoming destruction. The same mercy is to be enjoyed every day and every hour, to be talked of and dwelt upon, and living in that mercy keeps from giving up. While living in it, the ministry is to be carried forward and upward.
Not fainting means each one standing in his place in exalted privilege, revealing a high and holy character by active, wholly earnest religious service. It means perseverance and untiring energy which through grace is rewarded with success. That energy carries the triumphs of the cross to the very gates of the city of God.
Not fainting also means God's workmen are not discouraged in efforts to save souls even when those educated in error and darkness do not immediately respond.
Honest Open Proclamation
This ministry requires renouncing everything hidden and dishonest, refusing all craftiness and deceit, and refusing any deceitful handling or distortion of God's Word. It is to be carried out openly and honestly in the light, with ministers living and working according to the light they have received. They serve as workers together with God rather than complaining against Him, showing compassion and kindness instead of craftiness or deceit.
The truth is to be presented plainly, fully, clearly and openly before God to every person's conscience. Nothing needed for salvation is to be concealed or withheld, and teachings are not to be hidden to please hearers or to make the message less offensive. The minister's conduct is to agree with the message, living in harmony with the truth taught, so that the life as well as the word commends itself to conscience before God.
This ministry preaches Christ Jesus as Lord and not self, serving others for Jesus' sake rather than promoting self or acting from self-interest. Those entrusted with it receive in the heart the light that God commands to shine out of darkness, revealing the knowledge of His glory in Christ, and Christ's gospel brings that light of God's glory. This treasure is held in earthen vessels so that the excellency of the power is of God and not of self. They always bear about Jesus' dying in the body, so that His life is made manifest in mortal flesh.
Yet the gospel remains hidden to those who are lost, whose minds the god of this world has blinded against the light of Christ, who is the image of God. Those who bear the light of truth and righteousness therefore stand opposed to a world blinded to the gospel and governed by sin. These two parties cannot be united.
Applied to Every Believer
The instruction holds precious lessons for every believer and should be taken personally, calling for reflection on eternal concerns and humility before God, which meets spiritual deficiency in those called to teach the church. Having received mercy gives the church this ministry to represent the life and character of Jesus Christ, and therefore not to faint. Each member is to stand in place in exalted privilege, revealing the high and holy character of the church by active, wholly earnest religious service, with perseverance and untiring energy that through the grace of Christ is rewarded with success and carries the triumphs of the cross to the very gates of the city of God. The chapter containing the verse is instruction for parents to study and practice as their duty before God, guiding them as educators and ministers in representing Christ's character in their homes.
The ministry received by mercy must be held without fainting by renouncing secret evil, refusing trickery and deceitful use of God's word, and openly living the truth before every conscience in God's sight. For ministers and physicians joining the sanitarium, who are on trial while God measures the temple and its worshipers, this demands close work in families and refusal to weaken the principles of truth by imperfect lives. Then truth shines more brightly, makes free, and overcomes the world. Brought into daily life from above, it makes the character Christlike as partakers of the divine nature, seeking freedom from corruption in all associations and in schools, publishing houses, sanitariums, and food factories.
Having this ministry means having a day of solemn trust and sacred responsibilities and a work to do for God in diffusing great light. That work is done by talking of the lessons of Christ rather than starting arguments at once on doctrinal subjects, and by dealing wisely with souls for whom Christ paid the price of His own precious blood. God's workmen never faint nor are discouraged in efforts to save souls, even when those educated in error and darkness do not immediately respond. Faithful workmen show integrity and amiability of character and solid attainments in Christian growth, with advanced truth producing in the heart patience, faith, hope, and charity that leave a saving influence on minds. Their pity and Christlike patience, purity of heart, tenderness in word, and earnest fervent spirit reveal a living connection with God and prove they are branches of the true Vine because they bear rich clusters of fruit.