2 Corinthians 6:1-2 

¹As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. ²For 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.

Enjoy Life

         How are you enjoying your life? Young people may complain, “How can I enjoy life? I don’t have much money. I need to earn more money!” Parents may justify, “No, I’ve got no time to enjoy life. I have children to take care of. I need to earn more money for their studies.” And retirees may lament, “Yeah, I want to enjoy life but my body is weak. I am also sickly!”

         Each generation has valid excuses of not enjoying life. Enjoyment of life is appreciation of life. But could we enjoy every moment of life? Reflect on what Christ declares in John 10:10, ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

         Who is the thief that steals and kills and destroys? Scholars agree it’s the devil. The devil is the prince and ruler of this world. It exploits problems to steal enjoyment of life. It schemes to destroy our trust in Christ. And for us to have life in its fullness and gladness is one reason that Christ came.

         Why are they deprived of living their life to its fullness? They worry on things they cannot change. They complain and grumble instead of seeking peaceful gladness from the Lord. Stop worry, complaint or grumble. How? Seek the Holy Spirit to produce peaceful joy in you and avoid resentment.

         Let’s learn from the mistakes of the Israelites. Israel is chosen nation of God. But they did not totally trust him. It narrated in Exodus 15:23-25,

         ²³When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. That is why the place is called Marah. ²⁴So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” ²⁵Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.

         Marah is properly translated as bitter. Moses threw a piece of wood into the bitter water, and it became potable fresh water. Scholars suggest that the wood used to transform bitterness into freshness was foreshadow of the cross of Christ. Jesus Christ took our sinful bitterness to the cross.

         We trust Christ as Lord and Savior. We also trust that his plan for us is the best. We sense bitterness to check the level of our trust in Christ.

Seriously together: How do you interpret what the Lord has declared on Jeremiah 29:11? ¹¹For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

         The Lord planned all circumstances for adventurous life with him. He arranged series of events surrounding us to test our faith in him. It’s not easily appreciated when situations won’t happen according to expectation. But by God’s grace, we can take each matter as best plan of God for us. 

1.  Take

            ¹As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

         It is by the grace of God that we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We only trust in God when the Holy Spirit inspires us. So, as testing of the intensity of trust in Christ, the Lord organized various circumstances we may encounter. And we take that reality and receive it by faith in him.

         Do you struggle with sleepless night? Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you joyful peace, and you sleep soundly. Do you need help in your career or studies? Pray that the Spirit of wisdom gives you practical steps to take. Are you shaken by health issue? Pray that he fills your doctor with wisdom.  The wounds of Christ on the cross was necessary for our healing.

Let’s reflect on the crucifixion of Christ that’s prophesied in Isaiah 53:4-5.

            ⁴Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. ⁵But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

         Christ took with him on the cross our pains. What are those pains? Body pains, hurt feelings. On the cross, Christ was wounded to heal us. How? By faith we trust that Christ returns and takes us into heaven, and we won’t feel pain again. Yet, we still feel physical and emotional pains.

         While we wait for Christ’s return, painful problems prompts us to trust him. Painful concerns test the strength of our faith. The greater testing we can endure, the stronger we can grow in our faith in Christ. And we trust that God empowers us to endure painful difficulties of life. Surely, he keeps us alive until his mission purpose in and through us is accomplished.

Crisis

         Financial crisis has affected not just a few. It’s felt internationally. You might be distressed when gas prices increase, if you have financial issues. So, how should Christians respond to high prices of commodities? Does God want us to be conservative about our expenditure? Check your faith.

         God designed your lifestyle as proof of his grace and love. Can you accept that? How strong do you accept that he will sustain your lifestyle?

         Children or young people are dependent on parental help. Parents provide for us food, shelter, clothing, sometimes recreation. Caring parents want their children to have good life. Our heavenly Father cares for us. Let us reflect on Matthew 7:7-11. ⁷Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ⁹Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

         God our loving Father provides for our needs. He wants us to behave righteously as practical proof that Christ has transformed us. Our selfish nature has died. We are reborn into new righteous life in Christ. Our Father in heaven is gracious. He has already delivered everything we need for godly life. And we can receive what God prepared for us in his perfect time.

2.  Time

     ^2aFor he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

         Before time began, God had already designed everything in eternity. Time began when God created heaven and earth and everything that is in them. God set time for every circumstance surrounding us. By his grace we believe that God is in control of anything around that may happen anytime.

         Seriously together. Reflect on what it declares in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,

         ¹There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: ²a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, ³a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, ⁴a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, ⁵a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, ⁶a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, ⁷a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, ⁸a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

         Are you puzzled why nations go to war against other nations? There is time for everything. The Scripture noted it. War may break out anytime anywhere because of human wickedness. And what can we do about it? We pray that God grants world leaders desire or wisdom to promote peace.

          Everyone wishes extended tranquility to happen. Anyone has natural tendency to panic during uncertainties. Can we not panic? We can, how?

We pray for stronger faith to rely upon the grace of God for us to peacefully settle down despite confusion somewhere. May we be inspired by what it says in 2 Peter 1:1-4, ¹To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: ²Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. ³His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

         The Lord has already delivered everything we need for a godly life. How strong do you believe that? We could pray for practical step for us to receive the package of everything that God delivered for us. Certainly, God designated a perfect time when we could receive what he prepared for us.

Tax Return

         Have you filed your income tax returns yet? How much tax refund did you receive? You should file your income tax return first before you can receive tax refund. Did you know that you can have tax rebate for offerings to the church? Tithes and offerings fall under the category of donations. Your donations may qualify you for tax benefit or tax rebate.

         Tax benefits as result of giving tithes and offering to the church may puzzle anyone like: “If we give $100 to the church, we get $15 tax rebate. Mathematically, we only give $75, right?” Tax rebates is calculated, at least, 15%-33% of charity or church donations accordingly. Did you know that?

         Well with tax rebates, it benefits us financially to give offering to the church, but God blesses a cheerful giver even more. Do tax rebates from donations motivate you to give cheerfully? It can be instrumental for God help you experience his gracious love and you may also tell others about it.

3.  Tell

            ^2bI tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

         So did anyone tell you, “Now is the time of God’s favor?” It was told, “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is yet to come. Today is the time for action.”

          When God tells us to do something, we quickly obey and not delay.

         We disobey God when we delay his instruction. God won’t bless us if we delay obeying him. Does anyone appreciate delayed obedience at all?

Gasoline Price

         The increase of gas price is very unpredictable. One Friday, the gas price was $1.39 per liter. I told myself silently, “I will pump gas tomorrow.” When I came to the gas station on Saturday morning, the gas price went up to $1.59 per liter. I missed the cheaper price of gas because I delayed it.

         Someone said, “Don’t postpone for tomorrow what you can do today.”

King David told his army to keep his rebellious son Absalom safe. But Joab killed Absalom. King David wanted Amasa to replace Joab as commander of his army. He let everyone heard what he told Amasa in 2 Samuel 19:13. ¹³Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you are not the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.

         Joab ignored King David’s plea to keep Absalom safe. He insinuated also that he will lead a rebellion, if King David keep on mourning over the death of his rebellious son Absalom. Then King David ordered Amasa as the new commander of Israel’s army. It narrated in 2 Samuel 20:4-5,

            ⁴King David said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” ⁵But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.

         Amasa delayed the order of King David, and he lost his chance to be the new commander of the army. King David was anointed by the Lord, and his order was equivalent to the order of the Lord. It’s rebellion to the Lord to delay obedience to the order of his anointed king. Let’s reflect on what it announces in Romans 13:1-2, ¹Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ²Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

         God established authorities. It doesn’t matter if we believe or not. But if we obey our leaders, we expect blessings from the Lord. We pray that the Lord inspires us to respond enthusiastically to his prompting without delay.

         When it says, “Now is the time of God’s favor,” it includes practical and spiritual favor from God. We interpret, “Now is the day of salvation,” as salvation from eternal torture and salvation from challenges in this world also. Now is the day of salvation even from difficult struggles. Amen!

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