Now is Always the Right Time

 DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

NOW IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT TIME

2 Cor 6:1-2

6:1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For 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.

NIV

This is an interesting translation, although, in this quote from Isaiah, it appears not to be as forthright as it could be. In the Greek, it would read more like not receiving God’s grace, which is this word that is defined as God’s influence on our heart, rather than unmerited favor, for he says, “In the time I accepted you, I heard you, and I will help you in the day of salvation”. It could also be translated, as just at the right time I accepted you and I will also help you in the day of salvation. The point is slightly misleading in the NIV translation. The NASB translates this as:

2 Cor 6:2

"At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you";

NASB

The question is, what should we do with this? How do we act upon this information? What relevance does it have in our lives? First, we could say that we are urged not to receive the divine influence on our heart empty-handed, or without effect or fruitless as this is the meaning of this word translated as vain. When God exerts his influence upon our hearts, it should produce fruit, as it should have an effect on our hearts, and it should be filled with results.  For if we receive his grace, his influence, then we should allow it to have its influence upon us, rather than living as if it is not there. Second, when Paul quotes Isaiah, this quote, as it reads in Hebrew has a more direct meaning. In an acceptable time or at the right time I heard or listened to you. God always is listening for it is always the right or acceptable time to talk to him. Although it is said that God turned a deaf ear to the crying of the Israelites, it was because they rebelled against him and disobeyed him, and marched on the Amorites and were routed, or defeated by them, He still listens and at the right time, He is always there to aid us in our salvation. God hears our prayers, and He has already helped us in our salvation with the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, on that cross. The day of salvation is now for each person who wants it, God has helped them already. Today is also the right time to talk to God, for he hears us, He listens to us, and he wants us to listen to Him. He wants to influence our hearts, but we must be willing to accept His grace and not be like those Israelites who refused to listen, to submit their hearts to His voice. It is a mutual agreement between God and us. He talks and we listen, we talk, and He listens. He does the influencing, and we accept and react to His influence. Now is always the right time.