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
If you were to pick a "day of salvation," which day would you choose? Would you look backwards—to the day of your baptism or the day you first believed? Or would you look forwards—to a day where you’ve got it all figured out, or even the day of resurrection? In our reading, Paul announces "Now is the day of salvation!" Not the past. Not the future. But now!
While those other days are important and worth celebrating, salvation is not some past event to move on from, nor some future event to prepare for; it is the new-each-morning reality in which we live. Every day we awake in the mercy of God. Every day the Spirit fills our nostrils with breath. Every day Jesus sends ambassadors to refresh us in faith. So pause for a moment and bask in your salvation, for today your sins are forgiven, and today your future is secured.
Prayer
God of mercies, thank you for the gift of salvation. Open my heart to receive it anew, and set me free to live it this day. Amen.