Complete ECWA Daily Devotions 2023

MONDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2023

TEXT: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

1. For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2. For in this we groans, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,

3. if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.

4. For we who are in this tent groan, being burden, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

5. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.

7. For we walk by faith, not by sight.

8. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

9. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

(New King James Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: ABSENT FROM THE BODY PRESENT WITH THE LORD

The thought of death makes many believers cringe. Perhaps this is so because of the survival instinct in every human being. And to be honest, it is human to want to keep living even when the conditions are not favorable.

Paul in today’s text describes our bodies as an earthly tent, which will be destroyed. He talks about our groans while in these bodies and how we long to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.

The fact is that as long as we are in these bodies, we will struggle with imperfection. Knowing that we will one day leave this world should make us want to please God.

Many believers do not live in this reality. They make the attempt to please the Lord only when they are in danger or in need of something from Him. Whey they are comfortable however, their attention drifts from the Lord.

This is not the life Paul is describing here today. While our ultimate desire is to be home with the Lord, we should use the opportunity of being in this world to please Him by pointing others to Him.

As you commence another week of work or school, conduct your life in a manner that shows you are living for the Lord.

QUESTION: Are you really longing to meet the Lord?

PRAYER: Make me long to meet You, dear Lord. While I am here, help me to please You in all that I do. Amen.