Monday, March 30, 2020

Confidence in God's Presence

And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming.  If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.  1 John 2:28-29

Children of God, rejoice – for we have confidence that through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God abides with us now and for all eternity! 

The world in which we live is full of questions and doubts – especially now in light of the coronavirus and its effects on our lives.  People look at the world today and doubt that God even exists.  In the midst of all the hardships of life –illnesses and disease, failed relationships, financial struggles, stress, and natural disasters – people tend to question the existence of God.  Even those who believe in God, sinfully tend to doubt His love and presence in our lives.

As Christians, we have the wonderful message to proclaim that God truly does exist – and more than that, He is not a distant God, but a loving God who abides with His creation.  This is where we get our confidence as children of God: God did not leave us in the sin and despair of this world.  Instead He sent His one and only Son to become flesh in order to redeem the world by living a perfect life on our account, dying the death our sin deserves, and rising victoriously from the grave to win the victory over death for us.

God continues to abide with us through every day of our lives.  Not one moment goes by that God is not right beside us.  God is also present with us through His means of grace – Word and Sacrament.  Through His Word, God speaks His faithful and true promises and the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of faith to believe and hold fast to the promises of God.  In our Baptism, we were marked by God as His children – as the water combined with the power of God’s Word washed away our sin and clothed us with Christ’s righteousness.  And in the Lord’s Supper – Jesus Christ is truly present with us as we partake of His body and blood which were given and shed for us for the forgiveness of sins.

As God abides with us, we can live our lives with confidence - knowing that when we see God face to face we will not shrink away from Him in shame.  Instead we can stand boldly in His presence – clothed with Christ’s righteousness – as His children.  It is this knowledge that enables us to live each day – not in fear or doubt because of the hardships this sinful world brings – but in the blessed assurance of forgiveness, life, and salvation which is ours through Christ.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempters power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
(LSB 878)

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