2 Corinthians 5:6-10 [11-13] 14-17 (NRSV)
Read 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 [11-13] 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 11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.
Verse 12We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. Verse 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.] 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
My friend, Ken, had no use for Christianity. A mere mention of spending Sunday morning in worship would incite a lengthy tirade of all the reasons he thought that Christianity was stupid and attending worship was a waste of time. It had been several years since I’d seen him when he called one night out of the blue. He was excited to tell me that he was now a Christian. Remembering the intensity of his outrage, he was certain that I would be shocked at his confession of faith. I was not. Rather, I was elated to know that Jesus had found a way to change his heart. Sometimes the changes that God makes in us are huge and visible to all; sometimes they are small or gradual. But what a wondrous thing it is to see the changes as the new creation is revealed in surprising places.
Prayer
Change me, O God, mold me and shape me, that I may reveal your new creation to those around me. Make me to be more like you with every passing day. Amen.