… ⁴but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, ⁵in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, ⁶in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, ⁷in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, ⁸by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; ⁹as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, ¹⁰as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

Life brings challenges to Christian living, but we are called to continually “receive the grace of God (vs. 3) on an ongoing, daily basis, regardless of what gets thrown at us. Paul is confident for himself and Timothy that they have stood up against a myriad of things that would welt anyone trusting in his own powers and abilities. How could Paul paint such a dire description of his experiences suffered in the path of sharing the gospel? He even goes as far as “commending ourselves as servants of God” in everything!

Yet Paul (often called the apostle of grace) does not betray arrogance but humility. He has extolled grace throughout his writings. He admonishes the Corinthians to “receive” the grace of God. He identifies himself as one who serves another, namely God. And he does not hide his struggles as an arrogant person would. No, an egotistical person who exults in his own ability would not write as Paul does! He exalts his ministry, because he exalts the One he serves. And he sets himself and Timothy up as examples to follow (see 1 Cor. 11:1).

Verses 4b–5 focus on the negative experiences, listing Paul’s physical sufferings. But he quickly moves those things that could easily sabotage his mission to the overshadowing focus on that which is fundamental to his mission, itemized by eight things (all beginning with the same preposition, “in,” in the NASB and NIV). Indeed the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (Rom. 1:16). Paul keeps his proverbial eye on the ball and refuses to let the difficulties knock him off his course. These are the things that motivate him, not a selfish effort to reduce his discomfort in life.

But it is a battle, nonetheless, not a piece of cake, as the rest of the passage lays out. Paul chooses his weapons carefully (which he further addresses in 2 Cor. 10:3–6). He has learned to accept the “good” and the “bad” that accompany the servant of God. He sacrifices greatly so that others may become blessed. And by this he models for us the sacrifice of Christian service for others.

Lord, I commit today to live in sacrifice and service to others.