How do I decide what to write in my ODJ article? Each month, I move down the list of 66 books in the Bible, and pick a passage from three books to write on. But sometimes I’ll write on the passage that I’m currently studying. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that quite a number of my articles are on Christian service. So I wondered: How many ODJ readers are actively serving God?
Today’s passage is once again on Christian service, and I pray that God will use it to minister to you. As a servant of God, do you know that a prize awaits you? Huh? What prize? you might ask. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will give you the prize when He returns. It’s the “crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:8). Count on it. The prize is yours.
But why? Because I’ve fought the good fight, finished the race, remained faithful? Not exactly. The apostle Paul says that this prize is “for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). Naturally, if we eagerly anticipate His return, we will be faithful in service.
Theologian William Barclay explained: “When the [Roman] Emperor was due to visit any place, everything was put in perfect order. The streets were swept and garnished and all work was up-to-date so that the town might be fit for the epiphaneia [“appearing”] of the Emperor. So Paul says to Timothy: ‘You know what happens when any town is expecting the epiphaneia of the Emperor; you are expecting the epiphaneia of Jesus Christ. Do your work in such a way that all things will be ready whenever He appears.’ ”
Fix your eyes on the hope of Jesus’ return, and like Paul you’ll be able to finish well.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 20:1-22
More:
Read Revelation 22:7-21 to capture the wonder of the glorious day when Jesus returns.
Next:
How would the knowledge that Jesus is coming soon shape the way you serve today? What does receiving the crown of righteousness mean to you?
esther chang on February 15, 2013 at 12:10 pm
thanks for the sharing. Ps John Piper’s sermon on these same verses offer a further elaboration to your point on keeping the faith (what it entails) and being ready for Jesus’ return. here’s the link: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/i-have-kept-the-faith.
daisymarygoldr on February 16, 2013 at 3:48 pm
Poh Fang, true; a prize awaits all those who eagerly anticipate His appearing. At one point of our Christian service we realize, that prize is Jesus Christ Himself. The Lord Himself is our exceeding great reward and the crown of righteousness.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for. We fix our eyes on Jesus because He is our hope that motivates us to press on towards the finish line. In our faithful service we don’t withhold anything—not even our lives which we pour out like a liquid offering to God.
Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of “knowing” Christ Jesus our Lord. For His sake we disregard everything else, counting it all as loss, in order to gain Christ. He is the goal of our Christian race.