Now!

Daily Reading: 1 John 3

Scripture Focus: Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3.2-3)

Devotional Thought: We may not know everything about God or about our life in him, but we do know this: we are children of God!  And, we know that we shall one day see him.  That glimpse of Jesus is going to change everything, including us!

We will be done with...

·       Death.  When Jesus rose from the dead, he defeated death forever.  When we rise from the dead, joining him in heaven, we will be freed from “the last enemy to be defeated… death” (1 Corinthians 15.26, GNT).

·       Suffering.  Jesus told the story of Lazarus, a poor man who died and went to heaven: “Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here…’” (Luke 16.25).  We will be freed from all suffering when we see Jesus.

·       Tears.  Also, all the causes of tears will be wiped away.  In the book of Revelation, we are told that Jesus “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21.4).

·       Sin.  In describing heaven, John said, “nothing unclean will ever enter it” (Revelation 21.27).  There, in the presence of a holy God, all will be holy.

Knowing that we are going to see Jesus and be like Jesus in heaven, John posited a reasonable response: “Everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself.”  In other words, don’t wait until heaven to be done with all those things that are not like Jesus.  Purify yourself now.  Be so in love with Jesus that you choose to look and to live like him now!

Prayer: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! ...  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Amen. (Psalm 51.1-2, 7)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 129.1-4

1 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”— let Israel now say—

2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows. ”

4 The Lord is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked.