2 Corinthians 6:2: “For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, / And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

June 2nd, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

This Old Testament quote comes from Isaiah 49:8 and speaks of the importance of now, our present moment in time. In God’s economy, there is a time He calls for sinners to respond and repent. We are now living in that time, and God is calling all to repent and turn to Him. But that time will come to an end and the door will close, and it is that fact that caused the apostle to be so passionate about responding now to the Lord’s call. We are told in Genesis 6:3: “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.” We are currently living in the time of grace, privilege, and responsibility, but this time will not continue forever. D. L. Moody had this Scripture written in bold letters above his pulpit. He had a sense of urgency that marked his ministry because, as he said, “none of us is guaranteed tomorrow!”

There is a true story about Pastor Paul Rader (1879–1938) who had a friend who was a banker. Rader repeatedly shared the gospel with his friend, but his friend repeatedly refused to turn his life over to Christ. One morning, Rader, felt a strong prompting by the Holy Spirit to go again to his friend. So he took a train to where his friend lived. When he found him, the banker was standing in the doorway of the bank. “Rader!” he exclaimed. “I’m glad to see you! I wrote a telegram begging you to come, but then changed my mind and didn’t send it.” “That’s all right,” replied the pastor, “your message came through anyway by way of heaven.” Rader then again shared the gospel with his friend, and this time he responded, accepting Jesus Christ into his life. Overcome by his conversion, the banker said, “Did you ever see the sky so blue or the grass so green!” “Hallelujah, you’re truly converted,” Rader replied. “It’s just like the song says: ‘Heaven above is softer blue / Earth around is sweeter green; / Something lives in every hue / Christ-less eyes have never seen.'” As Rader finished, he heard his friend give a strange gasp and then watched as he fell over dead. The banker had been on the very brink of eternity. What if Paul Rader had delayed or ignored the prompting of the Spirit and failed to go and stress once more his friend’s urgent need to turn to the Lord immediately? Have you been reluctant to share Christ with someone? Behold, now is the time. Has God been calling you to Himself, but you’ve been reluctant to turn your life over to Him? Behold, now is the time.

“LORD, we remember that today is the day of salvation and ask for Your power and opportunity to share Your salvation with someone new this day.”