Ministers and Other Christians - Part 2

2 Corinthians 6
1 We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 ....
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all [things] approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

The question is, from the previous post: What is the will of God, for those of us, good Christians no doubt, filling those pews?

To start to answer this question, here first is more from 2 Corinthians 6 that provides standards for the ministers of God:

More From 2 Corinthians 6
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,

- in much patience,
- in afflictions,
- in necessities,
- in distresses,
- In stripes,
- in imprisonments,
- in tumults,
- in labours,
- in watchings,
- in fastings;
- By pureness
- by knowledge,
- by longsuffering,
- by kindness,
- by the Holy Ghost,
- by love unfeigned,
- By the word of truth,
- by the power of God,
- by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
- By honour and dishonour,
- by evil report and good report:
- as deceivers, and yet true;
- As unknown, and yet well known;
- as dying, and, behold, we live;
- as chastened, and not killed;
- As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing;
- as poor, yet making many rich;
- as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

These are God's standards for ministers.  And maybe these these standards are not God's absolute standards for us Christians sitting in the pews.  But they certainly do point the way to a useful, Spirit-filled life.

So, what is God's absolute standard for those of us who fill the pews:

John 3
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.