2 Corinthians 6:1 As God’s fellow-workers we also urge you not to receive his grace and then do nothing with it. 2 For he says,
“At the acceptable time I heard you;
in the day of salvation I helped you.”[2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8]
3 We try not to put obstacles in anyone’s path, so that no one can find fault with the work we do. 4 On the contrary, we try to commend ourselves in every way as workers for God by continually enduring troubles, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, overwork, lack of sleep and food. 6 We commend ourselves by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by the Ruach HaKodesh; by genuineness of love 7 and truthfulness of speech; and by God’s power. We commend ourselves through our use of righteous weapons, whether for pressing our cause or defending it; 8 through being honored and dishonored, praised and blamed, considered deceptive and sincere, 9 unknown and famous. And we commend ourselves as God’s workers headed for death, yet look! we’re alive! as punished, yet not killed; 10 as having reason to be sad, yet always filled with joy; as poor, yet making many people rich; as having nothing, yet having everything!
11 Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you, we have opened our hearts wide. 12 Any constraint you feel has not been imposed by us, but by your own inner selves. 13 So, just to be “fair” (I am using the language of children), open wide your hearts too.
14 Do not yoke yourselves together in a team with unbelievers. For how can righteousness and lawlessness be partners? What fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between the Messiah and B’liya‘al? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement can there be between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God — as God said,
“I will house myself in them, . . .
and I will walk among you.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”[2 Corinthians 6:16 Leviticus 26:12; Exodus 6:7; Jeremiah 31:32(33), 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27]
17 Therefore Adonai says,
“‘Go out from their midst;
separate yourselves;
don’t even touch what is unclean.[2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11]
Then I myself will receive you.[2 Corinthians 6:17 Ezekiel 20:34, 41]
18 In fact, I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters.’
says Adonai-Tzva’ot.”[2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14, Isaiah 43:6]
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As Paul traveled and preached about Jesus, he faced many trials. Several times he was beaten and thrown into prison. Paul experienced many bad things, but he always stood strong for Jesus.
When Paul wrote his second letter to Christians in the city of Corinth, he listed some of his trials. Paul also said that he continued to speak God's truth no matter what happened to him. In 2 Corinthians 6:10, Paul explained his satisfaction in Jesus. "We have much sadness, but we are always rejoicing. We are poor, but we are making people rich in faith. We have nothing, but really we have everything."
Some people I know stop following Jesus when they experience hard times. But God has never promised us that everything will be happy in our Christian lives. If we are serving God, we will face times of persecution and suffering.
What happens when someone makes fun of you because you follow Jesus? Do you turn away from God? Do you begin to doubt that God loves you? Do you hide the fact that you are a Christian? Be like Paul and stand strong for God today. Keep focused on Jesus and the promise of eternal life with Him.
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