2 Corinthians 5:6, 8-9

Peace to you my brothers and sisters.

Today’s Bible Verse: [2 Corinthians 5:6, 8-9 KJV] 6 Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: ... 8 We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

First of all, there is a parenthetical in verse 7:

[2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV] 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Generally parenthesis indicates something that may not be in all manuscripts or even a translator’s addition. I honestly think it was a translator’s addition because the translator may not have fully understood the concept that Paul is addressing and that is why I removed it.

Verse 9 contains the word labor:

Labor: φιλοτιμέομαι philotiméomai, fil-ot-im-eh'-om-ahee; middle voice from a compound of G5384 and G5092; to be fond of honor, i.e. emulous (eager or earnest to do something):—labour, strive, study.

In other words, we are eager to or we desire that we are accepted by God.

If we truly know and accept the gospel then God has revealed himself to us and with that revelation comes salvation.

In summary, if we are alive in the body then we are absent from God; that is, our sin separates us. The desire of the saved is to be with Him and that will come with physical death and resurrection. Therefore we are eager to be accepted by Him so that we can be with Him and, as I explained, if we truly know and accept the gospel then God has revealed himself to us and with that revelation comes salvation.

We all have a job.

[Matthew 28:18-20 KJV] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

All of the disciples of Jesus are to spread His word and the gospel.

This is the gospel:

[1 Corinthians 15:1-6 KJV] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

[Acts 2:22-24 KJV] 22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Go forth and spread this good news.

I pray that God has revealed Himself to you and that you have salvation.

Remember, God is sovereign. That means that he controls everything.

I hope this has been a blessing to you. May the rest of your day be blessed. Peace.