Morning Devotional January 17, 2024

 

1 John 2:28

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

Most scholars agree that the books of 1,2,and 3 John were written by the Apostle John while he was the Pastor of the Church at Ephesus and possibly an overseer of sorts over the Churches in Asia mentioned in Revelation.

That being said, I think we can get a better understanding of why John referred to the people he was writing to as his “little children” several times in these letters. By this time in his life John would have been of old age and as it is with many older pastors, they think of the younger members of their congregation as though they are their own children. Having raised them and nourished them in the teaching of the truth of God's Word.

John is the example of a good and faithful minister. He cares for the children of God as though they were his own. Especially those in the Bride of Christ. The Church at Ephesus certainly would have been well versed in the teachings of the Bridegroom and His Bride(Ephesus 5). So, notice in our text, John is encouraging his readers to prepare for the coming of the Bridegroom. This seems to be the theme of all three letters. We must prepare ourselves for the coming of our Bridegroom. And how do we prepare? We must “abide in him”. Studying God's Word to learn more about our Lord and Savior. Praying without ceasing. To be in constant communion with our Heavenly Father. “Singing psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs”. Why? Because it is through these things that Christ will prepare His Bride and “That He might sanctify it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”(Ephesus 5:27)

Where will you be when the Lord returns for His Bride? Will you “be ashamed before Him”? Or will you be ready for His coming?

Praise ye the Lord!!!