Spiritually speaking, it don’t get much better than this. At least that was Paul’s message to the cantankerous church members in Corinth. As they wrangled about their favorite preachers, and kept a toe (and other body parts) in the surrounding culture, Paul pushed them to go all in with their faith:

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor; now is the day of salvation.

Thanks to Paul’s preaching, grace appeared through the Lord Jesus Christ. At first the church flourished, but with Paul’s absence problems set in. Which is not unusual for any of us. Paul urged the flock not to procrastinate, but to pull the cockleburs of Corinthian society and give themselves to God.

Grace appears in cycles. A high school student might show interest, then leave for college and slide away from the Lord. When starting a family spiritual issues often regain importance. Finally, at the end of life many people develop a fresh interest in knowing God.

The Lord casts his line into our waters again and again throughout our lives. He’s a patient fisherman. But we cannot be sure of our length of time on this earth, or if we’ll get another chance to bite the hook. Paul’s forceful language continues to press for a decision, because now is the time of God’s favor.

2 Corinthians 6 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Majid Rangraz