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
The Christian walk is a journey “by faith, not by sight.” We are not able to see what lies beyond the bend in the road. We can’t even see if there is a road beyond the next curve. Yet we go forward in trust that there will be a road on which to travel.
Some day we will begin the journey that takes us before the throne of God. This may seem like a fearful thought, but Jesus will be there as our defense attorney. “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for us only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2). “He died for all.”
In Christ we are a “new creation.” We already are living by faith in the age to come. We have all the blessings of grace now and the promise of heaven is waiting for us. “The love of Christ urges us on” our journey.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we praise you for your redeeming love and the gift of your life within us. Amen.