Prophet’s Reading Plan: Jeremiah 1- 3
And the fruit of the Spirit is… faithfulness…
2 Corinthians 6:3-10
(ESV) We put no obstacle in
anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend
ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships,
calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors,
sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge,
patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the
power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the
left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and
praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as
unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and
yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as
poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
Paul and many of the believers were faithful ministers of
God, and here he lays it out clearly, first listing all the things they’ve
endured (beatings, imprisonment, etc.), then showing how the character and
power of God enabled them to do so (purity, kindness, etc.), and then declaring
how they were empowered to serve and minister in spite of all they endured
(speaking truth and living righteously)! These men and women were faithful to
God and to their ministry no matter what.
They did not retaliate when others slandered them. They did not demand respect
when they were dishonoured. And they were not offended when friends and family
acted as though they were strangers. And with all that they went through, they
were still able to claim that though they had nothing, they possessed everything. What faithfulness!
PRAYER AND MEDITATION
1. The
faithfulness described here is clearly fruit.
It has been cultivated through hardship and testing. How would you like to grow
in the fruit of faithfulness? Come before the Lord with your request and ask
Him to grow this in you. Tell Him you are willing to grow it whatever way it
takes.
2. How
does God want to encourage you through the passage you read today? Is there an area
where you struggle to be faithful in your commitment to Christ? Be brave and
ask another Christian to pray for you today.
