Acceptable Time to be Reconciled


Psalm 32, II Corinthians 5:20-6:10

Psalm 32 is the account of one person’s journey from sinfulness to righteousness. The psalmist tells how his suffering was a result of sin. Yet when he cries out for forgiveness it occurs. When he acknowledges his sin, forgiveness happens when one confesses one’s transgressions. Suffering in silence does not bring about forgiveness much less restoration. But joy comes from forgiveness, a term we’ve later come to describe as justification. The psalmist says that his sin is covered. When he said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” God forgave the guilt of his sin.

Due to his experience, he tells others – all who are faithful, to offer prayers to God in time of distress. He tells how God is a hiding place, preserving him from trouble, surrounded by glad cries of deliverance. He tells how steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.

In II Corinthians Paul entreats – extorts his audience to be reconciled to God. They must not let the priceless privilege gift of God’s matchless grace go to nothing. It was for their sake that God sent God’s perfect son Jesus to bear the sins of the world. Paul quotes Jesus saying, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you and on the day of salvation I will help you.” Paul then says the acceptable time is today.

He tells of the obstacles, the things that come up that Paul and the other Christian leaders endure, keeping them to reach others for the faith. We have spoke in the past about God’s foolishness. Well, here you have the foolishness of Paul. He tells them how he appears to the world but turns it into the positive wisdom of God. They are seen as imposters God yet knows they are true. They are unknown, yet God knows, should be suffering yet always rejoicing, poor yet making many spiritually rich, having nothing materially yet possessing spiritually where it counts from the Lord.

They are our example of seeing the spiritual positives in every situation. They appear to have discovered like the psalmist that God is our hiding place. They have been preserved from the troubles they have been through. Their trust in the steadfast love of God keeps them going.

Lent is a time of repentance, confession, and reconciliation. Now is the acceptable time to be reconciled to God and to accept God’s grace of forgiveness. Amen

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