Commendation

2 Corinthians 6:4-10    
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

In what things do we find commendation before God in serving Him?  Here is an unpopular list.  Patience, hard times, pressing problems, beatings, jail time, hard work, fear and worry that keep us awake at night.  There are the gentler but internally more difficult ones such as fasting for guidance, remaining pure, seeking to know more (rightly), endurance, being always kind, allowing ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit instead of our own ways, showing genuine love in actions.  These are fed by His truth in the word, by His power and strength, by Christ’s righteousness covering us, whether in honor or dishonor.  In the midst of this we have people speaking good or evil of us, being true and well known, as dying men who live and face discipline, sad for the lost and our own failures but full of joy for others we serve, and poor here while rich in Him towards others.  We seem to have nothing, yet have all things ever needed. These are things which commend us in serving.