...through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed.
As God's co-workers, we often receive two types of reports: one is the good and glorious report and the other is the bad or dishonorable report. However, you and I who serve God, do not need to listen to men's reports, but the report from God, because reports from men are temporary and come from the people is a temporary and subject to frequent changes.
In the book of Acts, when the people saw the miracles performed by Paul, such as healing the crippled, they were ecstatic and wanted to worship Paul. They presented him with a garland and said that he was the Greek God, Zeus. However, when some Jews who later came from Antioch mentioned that Paul was preaching the gospel, the crowd started to throw stones at Paul. From presenting him with a garland to throwing stones at him, how unpredictable are the praises of men! Praise God, after Paul was stoned, he did not lose heart, but went back to the city and continued preaching the gospel. This is because the report he was listening to did not come from men, but from God. He knew that the devil, Satan, was choosing to attack him in areas where God wanted to use Paul to claim! Hence, no matter glory or dishonor, bad report and good report, Paul did not take them to heart. Paul knew that he had a clear conscience before God and men. He obeyed God's leading and committed the final result to God. That was the only thing he cared about.
Later Paul added, "Known, yet regarded as unknown." Oftentimes, from a man's perspective, God's co-workers get the least attention from the world. The television, newspapers and other media do not give them much coverage. The media do not think that spiritual things are newsworthy. However, the work that you and I are doing, are sowing good seeds into the hearts of men and can bear the fruit of love in people's lives. This work will endure forever. Gossips come and go in the news, but only the change to the hearts of people can endure forever. Your work done, however, planted in the mind of the good kinds, bear the fruit of love in people's lives, and last till eternity. The gossip in the news may come and go, but the changes brought about in people's hearts will endure forever.
Brothers and sisters, will the work you are doing last forever or is it temporal? The truth is that you do not need to be a pastor to do work that will endure forever. As long as you serve the Lord faithfully in your work and preach the gospel, God will use you to accomplish His work. Are you willing to start doing that today?
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, help our hearts to only focus on the report from you and focus on what will last till eternity. Help us not to focus on temporal things, but help us to be pleasing in your sight and worthy to be used by you. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!
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