"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." - 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 and 6:1-2
One of the things that I love about Summer is that my flowers are blooming in full force: Cahaba Lilies, Stella Dora, multiple colors of Canna Lilies, Day Lilies, Crepe Myrtles, Phlox, Surprise Lilies, Black-Eyed Susans, Red Hot Pokers, Star Lilies, Hostas, and more. It's amazing, and I love it. It's beautiful, and makes it worth the wait.
I've waited months to see these things bloom. So when I pull in my driveway, I go slow. I look at every flower, thrilled and amazed at the beauty. Even my kids not only endure my pulling into our driveway slowly, but they also say, "Wow! Dad, the yard looks so good!"
We've waited. Now we enjoy.
If we do this for flowers, how much more does God want us to slow down each day and enjoy our beautiful gifts from God through faith in Christ: forgiveness, freedom from sin, new life in the Spirit in the Kingdom of God!
God speaks of wanting us to slow down each day and enjoy our beautiful gifts from God through faith in Christ by putting it this way in today's verse: "we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain...Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
There were people who lived long ago who waited a lifetime, believing God's promise about a coming Messiah, waiting patiently for a lifetime, but never seeing the day, never hearing of the wondrous deeds of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, never tasting the fruit of the work of the Holy Spirit. But in Hebrews 11, we hear of the amazing lives of many who, though they didn't see the fulfillment of Jesus, they lived inspiring and courageous lives because saw what they waited for in faith. They slowed down and pictured the promise of God's Messiah in their hearts and their minds. And in so doing, they were empowered and blessed.
Hey, y'all! I know life is busy, and summer is full of activity. But slow down! Flowers are blooming that haven't bloomed in a year. Stop, and take a look. They're beautiful.
And on a much grander scale the long-awaited salvation and blessings of God are in full bloom. Slow down, and consider and give thanks for and enjoy the wonder of Jesus Christ and all the blessings of life in God's Holy Spirit. It's beautiful. Absolutely beautiful!
"We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain...Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 5:20-21 and 6:1-2)
Praise God!
(For an archive of "Day of Praise", please visit my daughter Calley's website at http://dayofpraisepc.blogspot.com/?m=1)
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
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