If today you hear His voice,
harden not your hearts. Cf. Psalm 95:7-8 (NRSVCE)
Living By Faith
So we do not lose heart – Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being
renewed day-by-day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory
beyond all measure because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; For what can be
seen is temporary (See: Psalm 102:11; Psalm 144:4; James 4:14) but what cannot be seen is eternal.
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our
heavenly dwelling — if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still
in this tent, we groan under our burden because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so
that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who
has given us the (Holy) Spirit as a guarantee.
So we are always confident; Even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away
from the Lord — For we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence and we would rather be
away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim
to please Him.
For all of us must appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ,
so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others but we ourselves are well known to
God and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to
you again but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who
boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; If we are
in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ urges us on because we are convinced that One
(Christ Jesus) has died for all; Therefore all have died and He died for all so that those who live might
live no longer for themselves but for Him who died and was raised for them.
From now on therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view even though we once knew Christ
from a human point of view, we know Him no longer that way.
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: Everything old has passed away, see, everything has
become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given us the
Ministry of Reconciliation that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their
trespasses against them and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
So we are Ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us; We entreat 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.
As we work together with Him, we urge you also not to accept the Grace of God in vain. For He says,
“At an acceptable time I have listened to you
and on a day of Salvation I have helped you.” (See: Cf. Isaiah 49:8)
See, now is the acceptable time; See, now is the day of Salvation!
–2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 5:1-21; 6:1-2
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- You May Know the Joy and Happiness of Salvation Today
Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!