1st John 2:28&3:2-3 NLT - 28 And now, dear children, continue to live in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
2 Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3 And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure.
Journal Entry #56
As we wait for our Lord’s return, we must keep in fellowship with Him through prayer and study of His word to us and by living our life with Him living and working in and through us. As we continue doing life with Him with us and in us, we will be certain of the welcome we will receive from Him and have no reason to fear finally meeting Him face to face. But if we keep Him out of most of our lives, we will know Him little and do little for Him and when we meet Him face to face we will see our error and be ashamed at how we have lived our life. For this is truly how we are meant to live, “not I but Christ living in me.”(Galatians 2:20) To live this way means absolute surrender to God of every part of who we are and all we do, to invite Him to take control of everything. Then let us long for the day that we shall see Him face to face as He really is. Let us long for the day when our conformity to Christ likeness will be complete and we will stand in the fullness of His presence holy and blameless, without a single fault (Colossians 1:22)– even as we stand now in His eyes if we have accepted His gift of righteousness.
May all of those who belong to God pray, “Lord Jesus, help us to live in constant fellowship with You. Lord, teach us how to, “pray without ceasing.”(1 Thessalonians 5:17), to every moment be aware that You are with us and in us – as we go to work, or run errands, or anything else we do in our daily lives. Lord, right now, may we invite You to take full possession of our live and help us to surrender all we are to You that You would fill all our lives with Your presence*. Work in and through us so that all we do is You living in us. As we draw close to You and submit all our selves to Your lordship, God, fill our hearts and souls with courage and certainty in the face of life and death. Fill us with assurance that we belong to You and that You take joy in us. May Your Spirit testify with out spirit that we are Your children (Romans 8:16). Father, we long for the fulfillment of Your promise of a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13) and the day when You come back to take us to be with You (John 14:2-3) forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and there will be no more pain (Revelation 21:3-5). Purify our hearts, Lord, and make us holy. We thank You for the gift of forgiveness and righteousness You have given us and achieved for us through Your life, death, and resurrection. Stir our hearts with love, praise, thankfulness, worship, and adoration for all that You have done, are doing, and will do for us who love You and have been called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). You alone are worthy of all we can give and so we give it all to You for through You and to You are all things. To You be the glory forever! Amen (Romans 11:36).
*See the song Be Near to Me Always.
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