2 CorinthiansSample

There are a couple of times in our passage for this week where the Hebrew Bible is quoted to highlight the points being made. Today we will focus on verse 2, which says, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” This is a statement after Isaiah 49:8 has been quoted, a passage we will read in context tomorrow.

One of the main warnings of this chapter is to not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1). We avoid this through a commitment to a consecrated life, which means ‘set apart’ as a temple of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 6:16). The Corinthian church is encouraged to learn from the example of Paul and his companions, as described in verses 4-10.

Isaiah 49:1-12, which we will read tomorrow, talks about God raising up “a servant” in whom God will “be glorified” (Isaiah 49:3). Not only is this passage referring to the Messiah God would send but also to the followers of the Messiah. This means that we can read this passage and apply it to ourselves today.

However, it is important that when we do this we realize what it really means to be a servant or temple (2 Corinthians 6:16) of God. 2 Corinthians 6 makes the point that when we take amazing passages like Isaiah 49 and apply them to ourselves today we must recognize that this requires we live lives of consecration (2 Corinthians 6:17).

So as we read the passage today and dip into Isaiah tomorrow, let’s ask ourselves: are there areas in my life where I am receiving the grace of God in vain? What are these areas and how can we submit them to the Lord so that we can live as Paul and his followers did?