2 Corinthians 4:1-2

'Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.  But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every one's conscience in the sight of God' - 2 Corinthians 4:1-2

I want you to go back and read through this scripture a couple times.  When you do look at it in the mindset of your own ministry, whether you are a pastor, an accountant, or a parent.  Let's take this apart, stay with me now because I'm heading somewhere important.

'Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God' I want you to understand that the men who wrote the New Testament weren't popular, attractive, Evangelical preachers on the radio reaching millions.  These were men who were, most of the time, considered criminals.  People thought they were nuts, people thought they were offensive, people thought they were embarrassments.  They...didn't...care, in fact not only did they not care but they were THANKFUL.  Can I tell you how many times in my life I have kept my mouth shut about God, or about one of His principles, because I was afraid the people around me would think I was nuts, or offensive, or embarrassing?  I can see now that by not embarrassing myself I was embarrassing God's name.  By not offending others I was offending the spirit. 

'...we do not lose heart.'  I could write this entire blog about this first sentence.  I really could.  I'll be completely honest with you, I lose heart probably once a day.  I'm not Paul, I wish I was closer to being the disciple he was but I'm not.  I'm also not facing even a quarter of the diversities he was facing.  I know people will say that I'm awful hard on myself, but listen I don't have time to be proud.  I want everyone reading this to know, to understand, that I write this stuff without the assumption that it's easy.  I want you all to know that when the devil tells you that you're the only one having a hard time, the only Christian struggling, that everyone else you know has this down, HE'S LYING TO YOU!  Enough is enough.  It's time for high and mighty Christians to take there masks off and reveal that they, like the rest of us, are not perfect.

'But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways.'  Renouncing something is a vocal thing.  Paul says that they renounce disgraceful, underhanded ways.  When you do that, when you step out of your comfort zone, stand up for what is right, you're going to offend some folks.  It's worth it.  Live a life of integrity, and demand that those around you do the same.  Silence is seen both by people and by Satan as acceptance.  Don't be silent on what matters.  Silence got prayer taken out of schools.

'We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word,' REFUSE.  I like that word.  They refused to take the precious Word of God out of context to get what they wanted.  I want Christians everywhere to begin to use the word refuse.  Refuse to stand idly by while our beliefs are mocked or misconstrued.  Refuse to take other peoples opinions on what a scripture means for granted.  Have the integrity to go back, read the chapter, read the whole book, before believing what someone says.  Don't be spoon fed Gods Word, that's how people end up drinking the coolaid. 

'but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every one's conscience in the sight of God.'  this is the most impactful part to me.  It says to me that he lived a life so based on the Word, so based on the open truth, that he didn't need people to tell him what they thought of him.  He didn't care.  He knew that no matter how much people agreed or disagreed with him, that they knew what kind of man he was.  He was the kind of man that was thankful, strong, trustworthy, upright, and courageous.  People didn't have to listen to his words to find that out, they just had to watch how he lived.  In the sight of men and in the sight of God, we all need to live a life of integrity.

I've said this before, but I'm going to say it again.  I have a lot of excuses to behave like the world.  I have an excuse for getting drunk all the time, another one for using drugs, a few for being promiscuous, and several for being a selfish, lazy wife and mother.  But my upbringing doesn't have to dictate who I am.  Out of all those excuses, I don't have one good reason.  I do, however, have one amazing reason to live a life of integrity, and that good reason died on a cross for my sins over 2000 years ago.  Step out, stand up, and live a life on integrity.  Paul is one fantastic example!