2 Corinthians 6:1-As God’s fellow-workers we also urge you not to receive his grace and then do nothing with it. 2 For he says,
“At the acceptable time I heard you;
in the day of salvation I helped you.”[2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8]
3 We try not to put obstacles in anyone’s path, so that no one can find fault with the work we do. 4 On the contrary, we try to commend ourselves in every way as workers for God by continually enduring troubles, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, overwork, lack of sleep and food. 6 We commend ourselves by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by the Ruach HaKodesh; by genuineness of love 7 and truthfulness of speech; and by God’s power. We commend ourselves through our use of righteous weapons, whether for pressing our cause or defending it; 8 through being honored and dishonored, praised and blamed, considered deceptive and sincere, 9 unknown and famous. And we commend ourselves as God’s workers headed for death, yet look! we’re alive! as punished, yet not killed; 10 as having reason to be sad, yet always filled with joy; as poor, yet making many people rich; as having nothing, yet having everything!
11 Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you, we have opened our hearts wide. 12 Any constraint you feel has not been imposed by us, but by your own inner selves. 13 So, just to be “fair” (I am using the language of children), open wide your hearts too. (Complete Jewish Bible).
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If you were to pick a "day of salvation," which day would you choose? Would you look backwards--to the day of your baptism or the day you first believed? Or would you look forwards--to a day where you've got it all figured out, or even the day of resurrection? In our reading, Paul announces "Now is the day of salvation!" Not the past. Not the future. But now!
While those other days are important and worth celebrating, salvation is not some past event to move on from, nor some future event to prepare for; it is the new-each-morning reality in which we live. Every day we awake in the mercy of God. Every day the Spirit fills our nostrils with breath. Every day Jesus sends ambassadors to refresh us in faith. So pause for a moment and bask in your salvation, for today your sins are forgiven, and today your future is secured.
God of mercies, thank you for the gift of salvation. Open my heart to receive it anew, and set me free to live it this day. Amen.
John Guthridge, '15
Pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grandview, Wash.
2 Corinthians 6:1 As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.
2 For 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!
3 We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
4 but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;
6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love,
7 truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
8 in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
9 as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see--we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed;
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you.
12 There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours.
13 In return--I speak as to children--open wide your hearts also. (New Revised Standard Version).
If you were to pick a "day of salvation," which day would you choose? Would you look backwards--to the day of your baptism or the day you first believed? Or would you look forwards--to a day where you've got it all figured out, or even the day of resurrection? In our reading, Paul announces "Now is the day of salvation!" Not the past. Not the future. But now!
While those other days are important and worth celebrating, salvation is not some past event to move on from, nor some future event to prepare for; it is the new-each-morning reality in which we live. Every day we awake in the mercy of God. Every day the Spirit fills our nostrils with breath. Every day Jesus sends ambassadors to refresh us in faith. So pause for a moment and bask in your salvation, for today your sins are forgiven, and today your future is secured.
God of mercies, thank you for the gift of salvation. Open my heart to receive it anew, and set me free to live it this day. Amen.
John Guthridge, '15
Pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grandview, Wash.
2 Corinthians 6:1 As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.
2 For 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!
3 We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
4 but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;
6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love,
7 truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
8 in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
9 as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see--we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed;
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you.
12 There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours.
13 In return--I speak as to children--open wide your hearts also. (New Revised Standard Version).
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55108, United State
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