1 We are workers together with God. So we beg you: Don’t let the grace that you received from God be for nothing.
2 God says, “I heard you at the right time, and I gave you help on the day of salvation.” Isaiah 49:8 I tell you that the “right time” is now. The “day of salvation” is now.
3 We don’t want people to find anything wrong with our work. So we do nothing that will be a problem to others.
4 But in every way we show that we are servants of God. We never give up, even though we face troubles, difficulties, and problems of every kind.
5 We are beaten and thrown into prison. People get upset at us and fight against us. We work hard, and sometimes we get no sleep or food.
6 We show that we are God’s servants by our pure lives, by our understanding, by our patience, and by our kindness. We show it by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love,