Open Wide Your Hearts
For Meditation
Last week we heard an announcement: God has reconciled the world to himself in Christ. This is the kind of announcement that changes everything. This is not like the announcement of your favorite team winning the world championship, where you can feel good about it and just go back to ordinary life. This is an announcement of a world-changing reality that is meant to turn our world inside out and upside down. The good news of reconciliation with God in Christ changes everything.
Or at least, it’s supposed to. Paul is concerned that for many of his friends in Corinth, they are living exactly like they have always lived. Nothing seems to have changed. Nothing is different. He is appealing to them: open wide your hearts! Let this gospel, this good news, really change your life for good.
In this passage, he urges them not to receive God’s grace in vain (6:1-2). He tries to help them see the kind of difference that the gospel should make in their lives (6:3-13). And he urges them to commit, to get off the fence and yoke themselves to the crucified King (6:14-7:1).
What about you? How has the gospel changed you? What difference has this world changing announcement made in your life?
In preparation for worship, ask God to reveal the ways that you are yet to be changed and challenged by the gospel.
2 Corinthians 6:1–7:1
1 As God’s co-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.
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.