�But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.� Romans 5:8
What a tremendous verse ! The word �commend� is defined as to �regard with kindness; to speak in favor of��Ask yourself this question, �why would God act kind or favorable to me?� The truth is He shouldn�t, but He does because of His Son Jesus Christ.
But let�s look at this word in a different light in this lesson. In 2 Corinthians 3:1 Paul writes, �Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?� Of course, you know the answer to his questions, but strange as it seems, people often believe this is the way a ministry needs to be approved ! Does a Preacher�s Commendation of a Ministry make it Scriptural ?
I believe 2 Corinthians 10:18 has the answer for us, �For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.�
In other words, you will know whether a ministry is of the Lord by what God does with it. According to 2 Corinthians 4:2, �craftiness� and the �mishandling� of God�s Word are Signs of Dishonesty in a ministry. So how is one commended ? Paul says,�� by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man�s conscience in the sight of God.� A man who will not Preach about Jesus, Sin , Hell, the devil, etc�.is Deceitful and all the Letters, Books, and Slick Advertisements [ will not ] make his ministry commended of God !
Good psot Jude. And I think the pastor is right on point here. This is why God exhorts us not to let our good works or our behavior be spoken evil of by those in the community.
Its one thing to have your ministry works or your Christians works acceptable and spoken highly of, and another thing when the community looks down upon you as a Christian, and /or your works in the community.
Paul and the apostles were commended by their fellow brothers inministry, and by others often, and their behavior spoke for its self. Even when others tried to condemn them and their work, but no one had to speak up fopr them, because their good behavior and their works, spoke out loud and clear proving thier godly behavior as godly men and their good works in the Lord..
We as Christians should be so careful in our call a Christians..
