2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17 (NRSV)
Read 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17 on biblegateway.com
Verse 6So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord- Verse 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. Verse 8Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. Verse 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. Verse 10For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil. Verse 14For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. Verse 15And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.
Verse 16From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. Verse 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
Devotion
Confident. Make. Convinced. Regard. If only we always felt as certain as Paul does here.
From a human point of view, those imperatives can seem tough to come by. How can we be confident or convinced? How do we make it our aim to please him? How do we regard no one from a human point of view?
The answers do not come from human sight, but from the insight of faith. In Jesus Christ, our lens is changed. We see with different eyes. Everything has become new. Indeed, we do walk by faith, not by sight. Through the faith we have in Jesus Christ, we can put our confidence in him. Through the grace we have in Jesus Christ, we are freed to make it our aim to please him. Through the love we have in Jesus Christ, we are convinced that he died for us all. Through the new creation we have in Jesus Christ, we regard no one from a human point of view. In Jesus Christ, everything has become new!
Prayer
Lord, thank you for giving us the new eyes we have in you. Help us to walk by faith and not by sight. And thank you for making all things new. In your name, we pray.
Amen.