To All Those Who Love His Appearing

Yesterday, I saw an Instagram reel about Christmas in July. The world is blessed with certain individuals who love Christmas SO MUCH that they decorate and watch holiday movies during the warm, summer heat. Some readers resonate with that celebration, and others think those people are a tad crazy.

But, “those people” can’t help themselves. They love Christmas, they long for Christmas, they anticipate Christmas. And they do everything they can to increase the nearness of that coming event, only 168 days away.

Do you have a coming event you love that much?

The Apostle Paul, at the end of his life, wrote of a coming day that the Christian loves. As much as we celebrate the coming of Christ in his incarnation on December 25th, there’s another event, which anchors our hearts. Paul says it like this:

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (CSB)

These verses mention famous phrases like finishing the race and keeping the faith. Of fighting the good fight. And then there’s the phrase, “to all those who have loved his appearing.” Paul tells us that although he is about to die and that his time and ministry on earth are complete, there’s a day coming in which Jesus (the Lord! the righteous Judge!) will bestow a crown of righteousness on him and not only him, but to all—that is—all who have loved his appearing.

What does it mean to love His appearing? I like how the ESV Study Bible explains that this verse is referencing:

all true believers who set their heart on the return of Christ. Hoping for Christ’s return is an essential element of perseverance. . . .

Dear Christian, do you find yourself in state of discouragement today? Set your heart and mind on “the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13, CSB).

How can you, even now, be about the business of loving his appearing? How can the truth of Christ’s return impact your perseverance today?

In my own life, I’m praying, “thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.”

I’m confessing: “On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.”

I’m singing,

He shall return in pow’r to reign
Heaven and earth will join to say
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Then who shall fall on bended knee?
All creatures of our God and King
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia!

No matter the circumstances you’re facing right now, we are __ days away from the glorious appearing. We don’t know the number of days, but as surely as the eternal Son took on flesh 2,000 years ago, He is coming again. My prayer for you is that you will love His appearing, and in so doing, be strengthened for the tasks He has called you to, today.

Empowered and Equipped Workshop: May 5-6

I’m excited to join Restoration Church of Sanford, FL on May 5-6 for a weekend workshop where I’ll be teaching from my book, Empowered & Equipped. My passion is that women know how to study and teach God’s Word and I’m excited to take the tools I’ve been taught and pass those to others. I will demonstrate concepts from the book, as well as what I teach in the seminary classroom and boil it down to the basics in four sessions. We’ll learn about the nature of the Bible, it’s storyline and genres, and we’ll do hands on application by observing, interpreting, generalizing, applying and implementing an assigned New Testament text.

If you’re interested in joining us, the workshop is open to area churches and their women’s groups. To register, click here. We’d love to see you there!