“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

If I go to a doctor and he or she prescribes a medication, I won’t be helped unless I take it. If I make a mess of my life with bad decisions, I can’t blame the person who gave me good advice if I don’t follow that advice. It goes without saying that when I am offered a gift it is of no value to me unless I receive it.

Here is the gift God has offered. It is grace. God’s grace is His offer of forgiveness and salvation. It is His willingness to accept us on the basis of what Christ has done for us, pardoning our sins, failures and weaknesses. It is His willingness to come alongside of us and give us divine favor. Paul was emphasizing the importance of our accepting grace and allowing its blessing to be ours.

“Now is the time” means that when we trust what Jesus has done for us we immediately experience His favor and salvation. We accept God’s grace when we give up the illusion that there is something we can do to earn God’s blessing by our behavior and we rely totally on what Jesus did for us. The moment we trust Him is the “today” when His favor rests on us and salvation becomes ours. The grace that brings His favor is the key to everything.