Somebody Loves You

FRIDAY July 11, 2025

The Crown of Righteousness

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:8

Paul faced death, but reflected on his heavenly reward––there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day. What Day? One day Jesus shall appear and Rapture HIs Church––the body of believers. We shall stand before Him at the Bema Seat of Christ.

As we live our daily lives, we often forget that one day we are going to stand before the Lord, not to be judged for our sins, since we were washed clean by the blood of Christ, but for our actions and our motives when we did things as believers:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Our Lord will bestow rewards––different crowns. For Paul, he will receive the crown of righteousness. Crowns are given to those who love His appearing. A well-earned crown of glory will be given to pastors who have faithfully shepherded the flock of God (1 Peter 5:1-4).

There is the crown of life: Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12). There is the crown of rejoicing: For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

(1 Thessalonians 2:19). This is also known as the soul winner’s crown. It is for all those who have spent their lives witnessing––winning people to the Lord.

Finally, the imperishable crown: And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown (1 Corinthians 9:25).

Our hope in Christ for the future is the mainspring and the mainstay of our joy down here today.
~C. H. Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!