Losers Pay the Price
Beat My Body

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 6:4

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses

The Apostle Paul uses a word that has changed its meaning in our culture.  Paul said, “As servants of God, we commend ourselves…” (vs. 4).  The word commend in our culture can mean to “praise ourselves,” but that really misses the meaning in the apostle’s culture.  The actual word Paul used is “sunistao.”  It meant in their day to show, prove, establish, or exhibit.  He was saying to us that as God’s servant, he was showing or proving his faith; exhibiting his walk with God.

            That definition now leads us to understand what “proved” Paul’s faith.  The simple answer was in his hardships.  It is interesting that Paul felt his hardships verified his faith while we feel that going through hardships questions our faith.  We tend to look toward heaven and say, “what did I do to deserve this?”  We start questioning what we did wrong to cause God to allow hardships to come our way.  We need to start thinking about our struggles in biblical terms.  As we endure our hardships, they prove we are “true blue” authentic followers of Christ.

            The Apostle Paul’s first word concerning this proving of his faith was “endurance.”  This world is not our final home and we must faithfully endure the struggles that come our way.

Father, I will not demand that all goes well today.  I will proclaim that, no matter what happens, all is well with my soul!  In Jesus’ name, amen.