The apostle Paul writes to the Christians in Corinth concerning what is expected of one who would seek to be a witness to faith in Jesus Christ in this world. We begin in his second letter in chapter 4, verses 1-2:  Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. God’s call of us a ministry of any dimension is an act of his mercy, both to us and toward those to whom we are sent.

As we walk with Jesus Christ in this life we begin to carry more and more of his nature within us, and that increases day by day. Because of his call we become more like him:  Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. Our Lord spoke directly into every situation with which he was faced as an act of imparting his grace and mercy openly.

He neither hedged his remarks, nor tried to devalue his power in any way whatsoever:  On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly; Our Lord gave us his example to follow:  to boldly address life in his truth with the singular goal of deliverance and salvation for the lives of those to whom we speak that truth. There is no other goal than to seek victory over every situation and to bring glory to Almighty God.

And because we have this as a ministry under the imparted grace of God it is never used to lift our images in the eyes of others, but to identify the pure Source of all that is good:  we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. We then poke our noses into the lives of others because the Lord wants them to know him first and foremost. We will be committed to that end, and are blessed in doing so.