2 Corinthians 6:1-13 (NRSV)
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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
“Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation ... Open wide your hearts.” What a great message to the Corinthians and to us!
Open wide your hearts and give God the glory. Open wide your hearts and let the love of Christ radiate from within you. Open wide your hearts and let the power of the Spirit move through you.
With hearts wide open all the playing fields are leveled. Having wide open hearts means having eyes wide open, and eyes wide open means having minds wide open. Wide open hearts means realizing that everyone is created by God. Open wide your hearts and let there be no restriction in your affections for anyone.
Prayer
Open wide our hearts, O God, so that we may see now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation. Give us minds to know others as you know us. Give us eyes to see others as you see us. And give us hearts to love others as you love us. Amen.