Paul says in II Corinthians 6:7 as ministers of God we are to show it "by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left" or as the Message Bible puts it we should be, "doing our best setting things right." From verses 4-10 we have a letter of recommendation from Paul in what price we pay, just as he paid, as a minister of the gospel. Some hardships are imposed by others; some are the results of disciplines we choose. Either way we are to put right what is not right. We do so according to II Timothy 2:25, which says a servant of the Lord goes about doing so, "in humility correcting those who are in opposition." The Message says, "a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey." And, we ask why? Yet if we read on we have our answer. Again from the Message, "You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands." (See verse 25 continued and verse 26).
Lord, help us to be corrective in humility and love.
I Thessalonians 5:14-15, Galatians 6:1-5
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