READING: Ezekiel 45-48, 1 John 2:28-4:6
None of us likes to think about times when shame seized us . . . like, when we had to tell our parents about a teenage prank gone awry . . . or when we’ve had to confess sin to another believer . . . or we admit to ourselves and to others that we’ve not been the best spouse we could have been. We don’t like to think about these times, but most of us—and, more likely, all of us—have similar stories in our history. Shame has a way of capturing us and holding us in its snare. Trying to move away from it is hard, indeed.
Given the pain of shame in our earthly relationships, these words in today’s New Testament reading capture my attention even more: “So now, little children, remain in him so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 2:28). We know that Jesus is coming back, and we know we will answer to Him for our lives—but I don’t know if we often think about what we will feel if we have not faithfully followed Him as we should have.
The way we stand before Him in confidence when He returns is to abide in Him today. When we remain connected to Him in daily obedience and surrender today, we will stand before Him tomorrow with godly confidence.
PRAYER: “Father, I commit myself to abide in You today. Grant me grace to hear from You and turn from my sin.”
DAILY ACTION STEP: Consider this question: “If Christ were to return today, what aspects of my life would bring shame?” Change your life as needed.
TOMORROW’S READING: Daniel 1-2, 1 John 4:7-5:21
