Following Christ's Characterنموونە

BE HUMBLE AND PATIENT

INTRODUCTION

We will know Apostle Paul's background when we read the story of his journey of faith. He was a learned man and master of the Torah yet someone who was against God's way and therefore agreed to persecute God's people. However, by the grace of God, he was called and chosen by the Lord.  

That is why in his repentance and ministry, Apostle Paul reminded the congregation that his salvation was because of the faith and the grace of Lord Jesus. He even considered his knowledge or deeds as trash. This reminds us that we should not be proud nor arrogant because we are only chosen and saved by God's love and grace.

Today, we will learn about two interrelated things, namely humility, and patience. We need to have these two things because God is pleased with the humble but against the proud.  We also need to have patience because in patience we can control ourselves, be humble, and calmly wait upon the Lord. 

Every one of us will surely experience various problems in life. This means God trains our faith so that we can produce the characters of humility and patience.

SHARING

Let's learn how to be a humble and patient person from Apostle Paul with 2 Corinthians 6: 1-10.

1. Appreciating God’s grace (verses 1-2)

To appreciate means not to waste or demean something. We are saved and redeemed from sin through the precious blood of Jesus. Nothing compares to the blood and the love of Jesus.  

We can become successful, famous, abundantly blessed, and successful servants of God in ministry, however, we also need to remember that they cannot be compared to the love and the blood of Christ that forgives our sins. Whatever success we have, we have to remember that the most important thing in this life is the salvation of Lord Jesus.

A Christian will still be able to appreciate God's grace if he deeply understands that God has a plan for human salvation. He contemplates deeply that the sinless Jesus Christ becomes sin because of man. We must understand the exchange on the cross so that we can continue appreciating God's grace.

Appreciating God's grace will also guarantee our salvation in this world. Even amid the storms and challenges of life, God will come with His help to save us. 

2. Appreciating the ministry that God has entrusted to us (verses 3-8)

A ministry is a trust that God has given to us. A ministry is not only about serving in the church but also about serving in the marketplace or the secular world. A person who appreciates the ministry that God has entrusted to him will be full of enthusiasm to give the best to the Lord.

A ministry is our thanksgiving offering to the Lord because He has saved us. Indeed, we will face a process or a spiritual saturation in our ministry. Let us learn from Apostle Paul about his attitude when he encountered a process or a test in the ministry. 

Paul showed an attitude of humility and patience when the process happened in his ministry. He guarded his heart so that his response would not be a stumbling block to others. Paul showed a response with a servant's heart even though he was insulted and slandered. He realized that this ministry did not belong to him but belonged to God and that God would certainly defend his case.

People who appreciate the ministries that God has entrusted to them will always realize that they are only a servant. Even though they may be a leader in a company, they always have a principle of servant leadership.

Let's take good care of what God has entrusted to us right now. Be diligent and work hard to develop it for the glory of God.

3. Appreciating God’s given life (verses 9-10)

What the devil has in mind are the acts to steal, kill, and destroy. Cain had opened his heart to the seed of the devil that he killed Abel. Cain is an example of a person who does not appreciate God’s given life. Cain preferred to live far away from God. On the other hand, we will have abundant life when we are attached to the Lord (John 10:10).

Apostle Paul understood how to appreciate life. His field of ministry was very difficult that he came to the point of risking his life. However, Paul was not afraid of the challenges in front of him because he had kept his life according to God's Word. For Apostle Paul, living is to bear fruits (Philippians 1:22).

A person who values God’s given life is not selfish. He would be willing to give and even sacrifice for others. Jesus said that He did not come to be served but to serve. As long as we live, let us be channels of blessing so that our lives are truly meaningful for the glory of God.

DISCUSSION

• We must learn from Jesus because He is gentle and lowly in heart. Our hearts will be changed like His heart when we are close to Him. 

• Let’s give thanks for every test or process in this life so that the patient and gentle characters can be seen in our lives and God is glorified. Amen.