2 Corinthians 6:3-10

It's easy to be proud when our lives seem to tick the "boxes", especially when people notice. And conversely it can really crush us when our life seems to be failing, or difficult.

But look at what Paul says! Life comes through death. When we face rejection and when our life is tough we glorify God all the more.

Great Endurance

Of all the characteristics Paul lists, endurance is the one he emphasises the most. True servants of God are those who endure.

Being a true Christian isn't about how we feel, or how impressive our life is, or how trouble free we are - it's about endurance. It's about still serving Jesus no matter what.

There are 3 outward marks of endurance:

Enduring in Troubles

Take Paul's ministry as en example. He was imprisoned, beaten, and almost killed. Yet he kept going. His ministry didn't stop at the first hurdle.

Enduring with those around

Paul in V6 talks about enduring in relationships. Loving others when there is nothing in return. We should keep building relationships with those around us despite how we might be treated.

Endure through ups and downs

Paul knew what it was like to be both commended and rejected. Through all Paul's confidence in his standing before God remained.

Anything in our lives could be either going well or be a source of pain. None of this can turn a true servant from God.

Here areb3 reasons why it happens:

God's Power is At Work

Paul was able to endure because of God's power - the Holy Spirit at work in him.

If you trust in Christ alone, that power is yours.

There is Life on the Inside

Outside we might look defeated, yet we have life on the outside. It is so easy to feel like that, yet we must remember that we have life, deep down in our soul from Jesus Christ.

Jesus is in Them

That life inside is Jesus Himself! Paul's endurance was not his own - it came from God and was unlimited. Paul was dying so the life of Jesus inside him could be seen.

All the marks of endurance, we see first in Jesus in His life on earth. That same endurance is ours if we trust in Him and have Him living in us as the Holy Spirit.