Now is the Time

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Why put off until tomorrow, what you can do today? You've heard that expression. Some have turned it the other way around...Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? Often this is a light-hearted way to handle procrastination and to encourage ourselves (or others) to "just do it!" Have you wondered where the expression originated? Well, I think it might have been Paul! Although the Apostle Paul's exhortation in these 2 verses of focus in our reading, is not light-hearted. The matter at hand for the Corinthians was a matter of life and death. And in our days for our ways, is today, a matter of life and death for us!

"As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For He says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.'
I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (vs 1,2)! (emphasis mine).

Paul is highlighting, strongly, the reality that there are times and seasons for certain movements of God - and tomorrow really may be too late! Perhaps the Corinthians were waffling, doubting, questioning the experience, witnessing, or hearing of God's grace. Whatever the circumstance, it was cause for Paul to warn those within his hearing. He wanted to assure them that God's grace and favor was real and now. That as they were under God's ministry of Grace, that it was in that moment their salvation was to be received from God!

Tomorrow was not promised to them in their day, and tomorrow is not promised to you and I. Even as you read this message, today is the day of salvation. Today is the moment of receiving God's grace in your situation. Today. Now. Not later. Now.

"Lord, thank You for Your Precious Grace that is for each one of us in this moment. Lord, please move by Your Spirit, in each heart of the ones reading this now. However it is one needs to receive the grace You are extending, let him/her receive You Lord. For salvation. For forgiveness. For pardon. For direction. For patience. For understanding. For seeing. For clarity. For assurance. For ...whatever it is - now is the time. Thank You Lord!"

"The hour has come.."

Romans 13 (continued)

"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed" (Romans 13:11).

What are we "to do?" As we reflected last writing, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Love as in 1 Corinthians 13 style. Love as in acting in the best interest of another (which, as you know, is not always what one is asking for, or always in agreeing with someone...BUT whatever action is taken or word spoken - is always in love). Love as in thinking of another before ourselves - that doesn't mean we don't think about ourselves, as in not respecting ourselves...but as in not being selfish, self-centered, and "I'm # 1 attitude...

"...understanding this present time." What is this present time? How can Paul mean the same thing in @ AD 57 and we read this in AD 2010, as 'this present time?' How can 'the hour has come' in 57 and 2010? Paul is speaking from God's perspective - in God one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day. There are volumes of commentary written on just this verse - and my approach is very simplistic. However, when it comes right down to it, simplicity is how we live out the Word of God day to day. Simply put, we are told that we don't know the hour of Jesus' return. We don't know when 'life as we know it (on this earth), will end. But we DO KNOW that we are to be ready...and in this present time, Jesus could come....even before you read this writing.

Additionally, today is the day, this moment is the moment to 'love our neighbor as ourselves'; today is the day to wake up from our slumber - each moment is precious - today 'our salvation (the 2nd coming of Jesus) is nearer now than when we first believed'...

Are you and I living in expectation of meeting Jesus face to face, right now? Are we 'putting aside the deeds of darkness and putting on the armor of light? Are we behaving decently...not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery ("excessive indulgence in sensual pleasure"), not in dissension ("Strong disagreement or contention, discord") and jealousy'(13:12,13)?
Instead of these things, are we 'clothing ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ (the qualities of Jesus - love, humility, truth, servant-heart) and not thinking about how to gratify desires of the sinful nature'(13:14)?

"Dear Lord, please forgive us for anyways we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves (show us these things individually Lord). What have we not done that we ought, and what have we done that we ought not have done? We are sorry. Please help us to live today in light of seeing You face to face any moment; help us to love as You love us, putting on the qualities of You - we need Your Holy Spirit to help us - we can't do these thing, love the way You do, in our own power or strength. We can't really even want to love as You do, without You giving us the desire. Thank You Lord for Your continue grace and mercy, which enables us to grow in You. Even so, come Lord Jesus, come."