August 19, 2025 4:00 am
The Lord has a special reward for those who love His appearing, a crown of righteousness awarded at the second coming. This crown is an enveloping glow of divine appreciation for a godly life lived in daily anticipation of the Lord's return.
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Welcome to the Days of Praise podcast, a daily devotional by the Institute for Creation Research. Loving His Appearing. 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 all them also that love His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8.
It is fascinating to learn that the Lord has a special reward for all those who love His appearing. The word appearing, Greek epiphania, can refer to either the first or second advent of Christ depending on the context. Paul urges us to be looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. For the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ hath abolished death and have brought life and immortality to light. Our text for the day obviously refers to a second coming at that day, exhorting us not only to look for but to love his appearing.
At that great day, the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to those who have loved his appearing a special crown of righteousness. We have already received the imputed gift of righteousness by his grace and have been made the righteousness of God in him.
So this crown of righteousness somehow must be, as a wreath encircling the head of a victor in a race, an enveloping glow of divine appreciation for a godly life lived in daily anticipation of the Lord's return. The Apostle John beautifully expressed the way in which such a life, loving Christ's coming, produces a growing righteousness now and perfected righteousness then. And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. We know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1 John 2, 28, and 3, 2-3. If you've enjoyed today's devotional, be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. And please rate and review so more listeners can find us. To support ICR's ministry, visit icr.org/slash donate. Your gift of any amount helps us to reach others with biblical truth and encouragement.
Thanks for listening. We hope you'll start each day with days of praise. Hmm.
