Epistle – 2 Corinthians 6-7
How long have you been a believer of Christ?
Has there been a change in your life since you believed in Jesus? What kind of changes?
Is it a stress free life with everything going your way? Or does the life you now lead since you started following Jesus been more difficult that you could have imagined?
Paul sought to address this in today’s passage amongst other things…
Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 6-7
What have you done since you believed in the Lord?
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says:
“ In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Paul here pleads to the members at Corinth not to receive the grace of God in vain. I always wonder if I have received the grace of God in vain.
Have I worked with God? Have I done enough? Am I right according to the standards of Jesus? What have I accomplished for the Lord?
What about you? Have you thought about this lately?
Paul continues by saying that “NOW is the accepted time”. NOW is the time for us to work together with Him.
Not tomorrow. Not next week or the month after.
Now!
In a world full of tension, conflict, weariness, suffering and stress, some people offer the vain hope that life’s troubles can be done away with, and that somehow, we can get to the point where things will always be great.
They suggest that faith in Christ will deliver us into a state of peacefulness, prosperity and perfect health and pleasure.
But this is neither the experience nor teachings of the apostles like Paul and Peter.
Just read 6:3-10. Paul talked about the Christian’s life in terms of tribulation, distress, tumult and sleeplessness. BUT…
He also linked all these stressful matters with rich treasures that money cannoy buy such as purity, kindness, sincere love, honour, good report and joy.
This seems to be a strange connection – where trouble will bring hope. But whatever it is, Paul is certain that we will be stressed in folllwing and obeying Christ. But we can take hope for all this is to prepare us for riches we will enjoy in eternity.
So what can we do now to make sure we do not receive the grace of God in vain despite being in the midst of stressful times?
The rest of the passage gives us some ideas.
Firstly, from 6:14-18, we are told to avoid immoral partnerships and be separate from the unclean.
So that means – BEING HOLY for God is Holy.
Chapter 7 starts off on the same theme that since we have the promises of God, we should cleanse ourselves from all filthiness and strive for holiness.
Then Paul gives the example of Titus and some of the members at Corinth on how they inspired and comforted Paul with their actions and example.
This also set me thinking… Do we lead lives or behave in a way that inspires people in church to do more so that they do not receive the grace of God in vain?
Just take stock of yourself for a moment.
What do you do in Church every time you come for service? Do you think anything that you do will actually help someone to draw closer to God? Or motivate them to do something for Christ that is outside their comfort zone?
Even the younger members in Church can inspire the older.
I have been. And perhaps I will share this inspiration another time.
