25 Sep October 28th Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

YOU ARE ALWAYS CONFIDENT

2 Corinthians 5:6 “Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.”

Today’s devotional verse makes me think of Peter’s words in 1 Peter 2:11, “Dear friends, you are like foreigners and strangers in this world.”  You are a temporary resident here on earth.  This is not your permanent home.  God has that home waiting for you but you are not there yet.

Especially if you have been here on earth for many decades, you may wonder if you will ever arrive in your permanent dwelling.  To this question today’s verse says, yes!  You can always be confident the day will come when you will finally leave this temporary life here on earth and go to live with your heavenly Father, the angels and all the saints for all eternity.

Be of good courage, be confident, be ready at all times to go home to be with the Lord.  Live your life every day with this goal in mind.  Be ever ready because as the parable of the wise and foolish virgins teaches, you do not know the day nor the hour or second when that time will come.  So, Jesus taught, have your lamps full of oil and oil in reserve so that you will be ready to meet Him no matter what the day or time.  (see Matthew 25:1-13)

The Greek grammar for today’s verse is a durative present.  This tense means that the action is in progress in the present time and ever moving forward to your desired goal.  This was the message of yesterday’s devotion, wasn’t it?  This is the message of 1 Peter 2:11!  You are like an alien living in a tent awaiting the time when you will finally go to live in your home country and permanent dwelling.

You may indeed currently be groaning, moaning, and struggling against the temptations of Satan or even the infirmities of your earthly body.  This too shall pass.  Your faith in Jesus gives you great courage and encouragement knowing, “ But our (your)citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our (your) lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.”

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, strengthen me in my faith in Jesus to be of good courage and ever ready to depart this life to go to my permanent, heavenly home.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

God of grace and God of glory, On Your people pour Your pow’r;

Crown Your ancient Church’s story, Bring its bud to glorious flow’r.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage For the facing of this hour,

For the facing of this hour.

Lo, the hosts of evil round us Scorn the Christ, assail His ways!

From the fears that long have bound us

Free our hearts to faith and praise.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage For the living of these days,

For the living of these days.

Cure Your children’s warring madness;

Bend our pride to your control; Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,

Rich in things and poor in soul.  Grant us wisdom, grant us courage

Lest we miss Your kingdom’s goal, Lest we miss Your kingdom’s goal.

Save us from weak resignation To the evils we deplore;

Let the gift of Your salvation Be our glory evermore.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, Serving You whom we adore,

Serving You whom we adore.

(LSB 850)