3 min
With Him rather than running in shame when Jesus appears Live to Love Scripture Encouragement
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- Religion & Spirituality
1 John 2:28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.
In the last verse, John testified that his readers abide in Jesus today. In this verse we are encouraged by the confidence and hope that abiding in Jesus provides. The way we live today should always be in view of “that day,” the day Jesus returns. Is that how we are living?
Jesus’ second coming is as certain a historical event as was His first coming. We know from Scripture that when He returns, every eye will see Him (Rev. 1:7), every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father (Phil. 2:9-11). We know that everyone will give an account of his life to Jesus (2 Cor. 5:10). What will that moment be like for us? For His children, John wanted that moment to be a filled with hope and confidence—not a confidence in something they had done, but confidence in Jesus, the reality that their lives were testimonies of His life, love, and presence in this world. Here’s the truth and our hope: the one who abides in Jesus will not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If we abide in Him and live with Him in each of our todays, we will have confidence to stand with Him on “that day.”
We know that if God is for us, nothing can be against us. Paul put it this way in Rom. 8:32. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Have you experienced the reality of His giving you all things in this life as opportunities for you to glorify Him by finding satisfaction in this life only in the fullness of Jesus Christ, God’s Son? Your sins, all the days you didn’t abide in Him, your suffering, your blessings, your storms in life, and all your relationships—all things—were freely given to you so you could glorify God by loving and trusting Christ Jesus, our Lord.
How often do you think about Jesus’ coming and appearance? Does it have an affect on your today? If you’re not thinking about it, I think you are missing out on one of the most powerful encouragements to live to love with Jesus. It will be a day when those who abide in Jesus will be established blameless before God. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 “So that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” When He returns, those who abide in Him will give Him glory and marvel at Him. 2 Thessalonians 1:10 “When He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed — for our testimony to you was believed.”
So today’s encouragement has “that day” in view. Abide in Him. Live to love with Him so you will be with Him when He appears instead of running away from Him in shame.
1 John 2:28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.
In the last verse, John testified that his readers abide in Jesus today. In this verse we are encouraged by the confidence and hope that abiding in Jesus provides. The way we live today should always be in view of “that day,” the day Jesus returns. Is that how we are living?
Jesus’ second coming is as certain a historical event as was His first coming. We know from Scripture that when He returns, every eye will see Him (Rev. 1:7), every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father (Phil. 2:9-11). We know that everyone will give an account of his life to Jesus (2 Cor. 5:10). What will that moment be like for us? For His children, John wanted that moment to be a filled with hope and confidence—not a confidence in something they had done, but confidence in Jesus, the reality that their lives were testimonies of His life, love, and presence in this world. Here’s the truth and our hope: the one who abides in Jesus will not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If we abide in Him and live with Him in each of our todays, we will have confidence to stand with Him on “that day.”
We know that if God is for us, nothing can be against us. Paul put it this way in Rom. 8:32. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Have you experienced the reality of His giving you all things in this life as opportunities for you to glorify Him by finding satisfaction in this life only in the fullness of Jesus Christ, God’s Son? Your sins, all the days you didn’t abide in Him, your suffering, your blessings, your storms in life, and all your relationships—all things—were freely given to you so you could glorify God by loving and trusting Christ Jesus, our Lord.
How often do you think about Jesus’ coming and appearance? Does it have an affect on your today? If you’re not thinking about it, I think you are missing out on one of the most powerful encouragements to live to love with Jesus. It will be a day when those who abide in Jesus will be established blameless before God. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 “So that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” When He returns, those who abide in Him will give Him glory and marvel at Him. 2 Thessalonians 1:10 “When He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed — for our testimony to you was believed.”
So today’s encouragement has “that day” in view. Abide in Him. Live to love with Him so you will be with Him when He appears instead of running away from Him in shame.
3 min