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Women in Discipleship (sm)
Weekly Devotionals 2006
Week 21
"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.
If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him." 1 John 2: 28-29
The Bible holds many keys to how a person is to live. Here is another test for the believer. The practice of righteousness can only come by way of a heart after God as modeled through Jesus Christ. This is yet another key to true faith! It comes by way of the practice of our lives.
In these verses we see yet another "abiding" theme. We saw last week how the Holy Spirit is our Teacher. We now see that Jesus is Who we are to "abide in." Isn't that a great truth and one to ponder and enjoy? His righteousness is to shine through us.
John speaks with passion here. His tender teaching affects the passion of a life lived well! Why is this important? He tells us. We are to walk with "abiding" confidence in Jesus until that day we meet Him face to face!
We are instructed here to abide in the Light of Jesus. We are given the Holy Spirit to instruct us and the Word of God as our written manual to use, guard, and apply to our lives daily.
Our new birth in Christ is the life lived in full assurance and hope. (2 Timothy 1:12-14)
The "abiding" brings comfort to me. To know that my Lord is righteous and His righteousness can be modeled through me is humbling indeed. (John 15:1-11)
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
Where does our confidence come from? (Philippians 1:6)
What in your life needs to be purified so that no shame will enter in to your true "abiding?" (1 John 1:9)
How are you practicing righteousness today?
Verse 28 addresses two possible endings when Jesus appears. One brings confidence and one brings shame. Confidence is marked by righteous living and speaks of the person who is born of God in Christ. May His righteousness be found in each of us?
Enjoy the abundance of His "abiding" in you today!
Sandra Davis for all of us at Women in Discipleship
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