Blog entry by
mummieangela@yahoo.co.uk posted 2025-05-07 02:12:53
*LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL*
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
*YOU WILL NOT BE ASHAMED*
*Scripture Reading:* 1 John 2
_And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. *1 John 2:28*_
Jesus Christ is coming again. That is our Christian proclamation. It is a proclamation based on the Lord Jesus’ promise to His disciples. Christ emphatically declares that He is going to return to the earth again. He is coming to consummate human history and to judge the earth—every man and woman who has ever lived. This is the constant declaration of the scriptures. In His first coming, the Lord came as Saviour to lay down His life for our salvation. In His second coming, He will come as Judge over all people, whether we accepted His salvation or not.
Our task is to be prepared for the return of Christ. How can we prepare ourselves? We prepare by abiding in Christ.
*• We must not be ashamed at Christ’s coming.* The word translated as ‘ashamed’ means to shrink back or pull away because of guilt. It is similar to how a child who has misbehaved feels at the approach of a parent. Instead of rejoicing at the arrival of the parent, the child pulls away and seeks to avoid the presence of the parent. It is for this reason that many people do not want to hear that Christ is coming again. They pull away from the reality of His return.
*• We must be confident at His coming.* Confidence creates boldness – a deep sense of assurance. If we abide in Christ now, today, and everyday hereafter, we can have unshakeable confidence and assurance and even boldness when Jesus Christ returns to earth.
Let us continue to abide in the Lord, lovingly obeying His commands and serving Him with our heart; so that when Jesus appears and judges His people, we will be confident and unashamed before Him.
_*Prayer:* Heavenly Father, help me to stand confidently before Christ, at His coming, without guilt or shame. In Jesus’ name, Amen!_