Key scripture – “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come…” (Revelation 1:4 ESV).

Did you hear John’s words? Jesus is coming back! HALLELUJAH! The King is coming!

And on that day He will come:

• riding on the clouds in all His glory. (Revelation 1:7)

• wrapped in a blood-soaked robe, bearing His name: the Word of God. (Revelation 19:13)

• eyes ablaze with fire and crowns adorning his head. (Revelation 19:12)

• with His royal title etched on His robe and thigh: “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16)

Until that glorious day, Jesus gives us a great promise. He is preparing a place for us and He will return for us.

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:2-4 NIV).

While we wait for His return, He asks us to make ourselves ready. You ask, how do I make myself ready? Psalm 45 tells us what to do, “… honor him, for he is your lord.” (Psalm 45:11b).

As we await His return, He asks us to honor Him by trusting and obeying Him.

The first step of preparation for His return is to walk in the reality of His sacrificial love … to know that no matter what our past is, no matter what we have done, Jesus makes us beautiful. His sacrifice erases every drop of sin. He makes all things new!

So, if you don’t feel beautiful today or if you feel shame, guilt, hopelessness or unworthiness, remember this: Jesus, Your King, loves you and He will redeem and restore you.

Perhaps you fear that if people saw the real you, the secret things you hide from the world, they wouldn’t like you. Remember, your Savior knows everything. Nothing is hidden from His eye. And not only does He like you, He loves you with a love so deep that we cannot comprehend the height, depth, width and length of it.

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39).

Today, let’s band together as brothers and sisters in Christ to honor and adore our King, to prayerfully prepare our hearts to walk in the newness of who we are in Jesus.

One glorious day, my brothers and sisters in Christ, we will kneel as one family before the throne of the One whose Name is above every Name. Unimagined joy will fill our hearts as our eyes lock on those of our Reigning King, and we finally see Him face to face, and we get to worship and praise Him, and embrace Him with a big bear hug!

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, You are awesome in glory and majestic in power. You are the King over all the earth, and You are my King. Thank You for Your promise that You’re preparing a place for me. With that promise tucked in my heart, I have peace and joy, because I know that this is not my permanent home, someday I will live with You in Heaven forever and ever. Thank You for sealing me with Your Spirit and engraving my name on the palm of Your hand and I am ever before you. “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” (Isaiah 49:16 NIV). Thank You that You are making me beautiful in Your sight. Help me to confidently walk in that beauty. Prepare my heart for my reunion with You at the foot of Your eternal throne. When I am finally before Your throne, I will fall on my face before You as I worship and praise You, and I will rejoice, with singing and dancing because I am finally home. I love You, Jesus! I ask all this in the Precious and Holy Name of Jesus, and all God’s children say, “AMEN!”