Motivation to Serve with Fidelity - 2 Corinthians 4-5

Motivation to Serve with Fidelity

 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (ESV)
1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 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 everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

When Paul had finished the heavy doctrinal material to the church in Rome, he wrote:

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Notice the similarity of that verse with how he wrote the church at Corinth.    In both cases he tells his readers that it is the “mercy” of God that is the reason we pivot from deep doctrine to a powerful daily walk with Christ.   God’s mercy is our source of power and strength.   A common way to talk about mercy is in the relationship with another great word in the Bible, grace.   What is typically stated about these two words is probably a good way for us to understand the above verse.  Theologians like to say:

“Grace is God giving us something we don’t deserve, while Mercy is God withholding from us something we do deserve.”

Another statement that is often stated is:  Mercy is compassion that forbears punishment even when God’s justice demands it.   Grace is getting what you don’t deserve and mercy is when we don’t get what we deserve.   Paul, in writing to the Roman believers and the Corinthians believers states that it is by God’s mercy that “don’t lose heart.”   He is stating that one of our great encouragements to be motivated to serve God is the knowledge of the mercy of God; that God has removed what we deserve.   Paul states that the point of his ministry and what keeps him on track to avoid using God’s Word for profit, was to focus and mediate upon God’s mercy.    God has granted to us clemency.   When someone get’s clemency they are being granted mercy.   The Grantor is saying, you deserve justice, but I will give you freedom.   That is the motivation for serving with fidelity.  We are to serve in the way Paul describes in verse two.  But, it is the motivation of knowing he was granted clemency.   We are empowered by God’s mercy.   That motivates us to handle God’s Word with truth and power.