The ministry of the crucible.

A crucible: a ceramic or metal container in which metals or other substances may be melted or subjected to very high temperatures.

For Paul, since entering the life of service to God it has not been one of victory and miracles entirely. There has been a flip-side to that coin. It has been more like the crucible. Ministry has happened within the crucible of discomfort but has been proven authentic.

“We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴ Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6 v 3-10)

Paul’s service flowed from who he was not what he did. He is a servant of God and it is a tough life being so. He doesn’t sugar-coat his experiences. He has faced much difficulty and opposition.

The real credentials of ministry is never what you think it is.

Next week along with the National team of leaders I will be giving out credentials to new ministers who will be ordained the following month. Last week along with others I led a global conference of Pastors from across the world who know hardship and suffering. True credentials are not small cards or whether or not your work is successful, according to the views of people who see you on the many stages of this world; but true credentials are found in difficulty, in the crucibles of this world. The Holy Spirit is there within the crucible of suffering, difficulty and opposition and is forming who we are within them. The paradox of the reality of brokenness and celebration.

Paul doesn’t complain or react against the discomfort. He doesn’t necessarily want to avoid them. He sees his difficulties as the demonstration for the glory of God in his life. So we can sorrow and rejoice!