Knowing The Word in 2 Corinthians 5:8-9, Our Aim to Please

8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

Since we don’t see these things, we live by faith and courage, aiming to please God in our faithfulness to him. We are to live to bring delight to God. Yet one day each of us will die and go home to the Lord. Paul believes that when we die, though our physical bodies are buried, our soul or spirit goes immediately into the presence of Jesus to rest in him until the Day of Resurrection when all in Christ will receive resurrection bodies like his.

You are our eternal salvation,

the unfailing life of the world.

Light everlasting,

you are truly our redemption.

Grieving that the human race was perishing

through the tempter’s power,

without leaving the heights

you came to the depths in your loving kindness.

Readily taking our humanity by your own gracious will,

you saved all earthly creatures, long since lost,

restoring joy to the world.

Redeem our souls and bodies, O Christ,

and so possess us as your shining swellings.

By your first coming, make us righteous;

at your second coming, set us free:

so that, when the world is filled with light

and you judge all things,

we may be clad in spotless robes

and follow in your steps, O King,

into the heavenly hall.

Source unknown, 10th century