Advent - 1 John 4:17

Confidence

I've definitely written about confidence before outside this blog, it's a key Christian theme. John mentions here in the middle of a bunch of stuff about love as he is wrapping up this letter.

Love is beautiful, and over this Advent season I've reflected a lot on verse 19 "We love, because he first loved us". Because of God, his original love for you and me, his own power and majesty, his own right to rule and reign - because of all of that I am to "have confidence in the day of judgement". Christmas isn't so much about looking forward to a future time, it's remembering that the time we look forward to is already here in part. Jesus has already come, once. He brought heaven to earth and undid much of the curse of separation placed on humans at Eden. It's because he's already done it, because he loved me first, that confidence can follow. No Christian should find themselves concerned about their position in front of the Lord any more than my daughter should ever be concerned about her status as my daughter. There's nothing she could do to separate herself from my love for her, and there is nothing I can do to separate myself from God's love. In the binding of that love, is confidence for security in the future. Not that all my bills are paid and I have a happy life

• but that in the ultimate sense, my purpose as an image-bearing Human will be fully realized, God's plan fully carried out, in the end. And I don't have to worry, because in his love I am secure, just like I hope that in my love my daughters are secure.

Christians struggle with doubt, and that's not a sin. John would encourage you to take hold of being God's child, live that way, and in living like his child, his love is revealed, and as it is revealed and perfected, confidence naturally follows.

We aren't guaranteed much about life, but I have zero valid reasons to doubt the King who saved me and will continue to save me. May Jesus' name be great, he is King, amen.