Marks of the Ministry

2 Corinthians 6:1-10

"We then, as workers together with Him also plead
with you not to receive the grace of God in vain."

For He says:
"In an accepted time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you."

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

"We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed."

But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God:

"in much patience, in tribulations, in needs,
in distresses,in stripes, in imprisonments,
in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;"

"by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness,
by the Holy Spirit,by sincere love, by the word of truth,
by the power of God,by the armor of righteousness
on the right hand and on the left,"

"by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report;
by deceivers, yet true;as unknown, and yet well known,
as dying, and behold we live;as chastened, and yet not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;as poor, yet making many rich;
as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."

Submit to the elder

20 January 2008, Sunday

Today Ps David used the bible verses Exodus 32:1-14 to show us the love which from God towards us by testimonial of Moses. Besides that, I personally also received something regard the submitting to the spiritual leader.

In our daily life, we will find someone that we think is better or more understanding to talk with when we faced difficulty or unhappiness. However, the someone really is the right person to talk with? Moreover, his or her opinion really can help us come out from the problem that we faced?

In Exodus 32:1-6, all the Israelite that started to worry because Moses had already not with them for forty days. Therefore, they decided to ask Aaron to make them a god that will able to protect them. In this case, they did something right and something wrong, the right thing was they submitted to their spiritual leader; but the wrong thing was though Aaron is one of the spiritual leader at that time but his spiritual maturity still not that strong yet. End out he came out with a conclusion that made a golden calf to be their god...

Actually when we faced problem, confusion, difficulty or unhappiness, we should talk with our spiritual leader or someone that spiritually mature, so you able to receive some Godly advice or solution that is from God, not from satan and devil. Though you may think that the spiritual leader is not understanding enough, so you decide to find someone that you think they are more understanding, which actually their spiritual maturity is most likely same as you or maybe even worse than you. End out you will receive some funny advice which will not solve your problem and the worse is lead you into more and more of confusion...

But don't worry, even though Aaron at 1st is spiritual not mature, but after he trained by God, he become one of the great leader in the bible, so I believe that the someone that used to give you wrong advise will become a great leader that spiritually mature!

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but give grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5