Whether Present or Absent Accepted by God 2 Corinthians 5:9

Paul the apostle shared with the Corinthian church members how he and his companions were “confident” and “willing”, “to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” as he referred to being “clothed with a heavenly body” after he died, and in chapter five and verse nine of Second Corinthians, Paul told the church members how he and his companions, “labor, that...they may be accepted of him” where we read:

Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

The verse begins, “Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, ... ” Paul began with the words, “wherefore” which means “consequently and for which cause” “we labor” or “Paul and his companions are actuated by love of honor, ambitious, strive earnestly and make it one's aim”, “that” which means “and, also, even and indeed”, “whether” or “if” “present” which means “among one's own people, dwelling in one's own country or staying at home” “or absent” or “abroad, emigrate or departed”. Paul and his companions were motivated to “strive earnestly” and make it their “aim” to work for the Lord.

The verse continues, “...we may be accepted of him.” Paul added the words, “we may be accepted” which means “Paul and his companions might be well pleasing and acceptable” “of him” which refers to “God”. Paul and his companions were willing to “work” with the goal in mind of being “acceptable” to God.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how it was his “aim” and “goal” whether they were at home or abroad to minister for the Lord Jesus. They desired to be “accepted” by God, and since Jesus saved them from their sins and gave them life anew, they wanted to work for Him. Jesus desires to have such a relationship with people that they want to “labor” to be acceptable to Him, and those who are wise shall not only read these words, but put them into practice whether they are “present” or “abroad” in this world.

Next time Paul shares with the church members how, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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