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
When I hear Paul's witness to the Corinthians: "See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!" I can just hear Job responding, "Where was that word when I needed it?!"
Last summer my wife and I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail through Oregon. We were out on the trail for 38 days. Amazingly enough our cell phone provider offers 4G even in the middle of nowhere! So, we were able to keep a blog—and friends left us messages of encouragement. I remember climbing steep grades, checking the phone and thinking, "Gee, it sure would be nice to have somebody tell us how awesome we are right now!"
Because of God's grace for you in Christ, now is the day of your awesomeness. That's the gospel for today. With the winds, and the waves, and the reeling, and the staggering, sometimes comes the acceptable time when God moves among us with power. You don't have to understand it; just let it be. Just be open to God's presence.
Prayer
Lord of sea and sky, may the heavens open this day and the waves die away. Now is the acceptable time. Let me be what you want me to be. I am ready. In Jesus' Name. Amen.