2 Corinthians 6:1-13 (NRSV)
Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 6As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. Verse 2For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you." See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! Verse 3We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, Verse 4but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, Verse 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; Verse 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, Verse 7truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; Verse 8in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; Verse 9as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see-we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; Verse 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Verse 11We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. Verse 12There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. Verse 13In return-I speak as to children-open wide your hearts also.
Devotion
In our reading Paul boldly proclaims, “now is the acceptable time.” In the NIV Bible we read, “now is the time of God’s favor.” There was a time the people of the United States believed that God had divinely ordained the country to take over land. So what do we Americans think, not only of our country now, but of God’s will for our country? In light of economic troubles and contraction, if we say it is God’s favor causing our bounty, can we also say it is God’s will that we contract?
And how could Paul, amidst the harsh circumstances he describes, claim that God’s favor was upon him? Paul claimed God’s favor because he knew that it came not of material comfort, but of one who gave up all that he had for the sake of the world. Paul’s bounty would never contract or be stolen because it was already freely given away.
We, too, are in the time of God’s favor! We can measure God’s favor upon us, not by how much we accumulate but by how much we can give away. Let us freely share God’s favor! Now is the acceptable time.
Prayer
Generous God, you have provided for all of our needs. Teach us how to use these riches to satisfy the needs of others. Amen.