¹Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, ²but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

There is much to discourage anyone who serves the Lord; ministry is difficult. Paul later speaks of the groaning all Christians experience in the flesh as we look forward to our immortal life (2 Cor. 5:4), his fear that he would be a burden to any of those to whom he would minister (2 Cor. 11:9), and the particular burden of “the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28). Additionally, he was pressed in by persecutions from unbelievers as well as criticisms from believers (especially the Corinthians). Living the life of service for our Lord is not for the faint of faith! As we read through the rest of this letter, we will discover just how much Paul suffered for fulfilling his ministry mandate from the Lord.

So what encouraged the apostle? What kept him going despite the tremendous sacrifice physically and emotionally? What can keep us going today as we seek to serve the Lord and His people? First Paul says his ministry was connected to God’s mercy. Though he would count it a great privilege to be nothing more than a gatekeeper in the house of the Lord, he understood that he was not worthy of even such a menial task in light of his background of persecuting the church (see Psalm 84:10). Because of God’s grace, he wrote elsewhere, “I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe…” (1 Tim 1:16). He served not out of a sense of earned status, but purely by God’s mercy.

One of the greatest sources of discouragement comes from a sense of personal offense: “I deserve better than to be treated like this!” Not so, in Paul’s thinking. If anything, he would say he was worthy of suffering because of what he had done against the Christian movement. So he doesn’t ask, “Why me?” in the negative, demoralizing sense. Rather he would ask, “Why me?” with a sense of wonder and empowerment because he knows he is not worthy to be used by God. Thus, how can he lose heart?!

Paul is motivated to “renounce” any sub-Christian methods in his ministry that use any kind of subterfuge. He had nothing to fear, for the truth would vindicate him against accusations of ulterior motives. What a stinging indictment this was to the Corinthians to hear Paul putting himself out there like that.

Lord, I desire to walk and serve in the truth, for that is encouragement enough.