Daily Bread 3-26-19
2 Timothy 4:6-8
6 - For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is now at hand.
7 - I have fought a good fight, I have finished may course, I have kept the faith:
8 - Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto them also that love his appearing.
ref. - Rev 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you in prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
What a day that will be when we reach the other side!! The Apostle Paul was ready to go and eagerly awaiting his own death. He was looking forward to the glory that was to come and the peace that awaited him in the arms of our Lord. Can we see that same thing at the end and will we welcomely await our own ends? It is highly believed and said that all things happen for a reason. That reason we do not know right now, but we will some day. As cliche and unhelpful as this seems, it is true. What we must do is not wonder why and how and what, but we must strive to remain in God's grace through it all. We must keep on looking for that end and be ready when it comes. The tribulation that we face on earth is nothing as compared to the glory that is to come so stand fast, my Brethren, and be counted as children of God! There is nothing that shall stand in your way if you remain faithful to the one who can conquer death! He will lead us through this wilderness and we will end up with our own crowns of righteousness if we only will stay with him. We must not dread the end on this earth but be looking forward to the great reward! We must not be afraid any longer of what this world shall do to us but be afraid of what our Lord will do to this world. We must also, someday, be able to proclaim boldly that we have fought a good fight, and we have finished our course, and that we have kept the faith. It will then be, at his coming, that we run toward him and not away from him! The excitement and anticipation builds as this is written knowing that the strength and courage needed is given all in Jesus Christ!! That we may be tried, but will overcome! That we will be persecuted but we will endure!! That the same crown that fits the Apostle Paul and so many others that will be there, will also fit our heads! And that crown of righteousness shall be our reward for a great, humble, hard fought battle where we will come out victorious over all that opposes God!! We can and will overcome in the name of Jesus Christ!!! Lazarus!! Rise up and walk!!! Have a great day!!!