◄ What Does 2 Timothy 4:8 Mean? ►

As soon as we are saved by grace through faith, we are called to live by grace through faith. And at the end of his final epistle, before his death, Paul reminds Timothy to keep running with perseverance the Christian race set before him, to preach the God-breathed Word, and to stand fast and patiently endure, by grace through faith, as he waits expectantly for the return of the Lord.

Like Timothy, we too are to live by grace through faith, knowing that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be rewarded with gold, silver, or precious stones for the good works we did by grace through faith, or suffer loss for the ungodly works we did in the flesh.

Paul encourages us all to live by grace through faith so that we too may be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ, and to watch in eager anticipation for the any-day return of the Lord. Paul reminds us: "There is laid up in heaven a crown of righteousness, for all who have loved His appearing," there is a crown for all who are eagerly watching for the soon return of the Lord Jesus for his Church.

Let us be those that walk in spirit and truth, and live by faith and not by sight. Let us be those that run with perseverance the race set before us, as we preach the Word and patiently endure the trials of life, by grace through faith.

Let us watch with eager anticipation for the any day return of our Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds so that we too may receive the crown of righteousness, which is laid up for all who love His appearing.

Heavenly Father, help me to live by grace through faith, as I watch for Your any day return when You come to take us to be with Yourself. I pray that I may run the race set before me with patient endurance as I watch for Your appearing with eager anticipation. I pray that I may finish the good work that You have started in me so that I may hear You say, "Well done faithful servant." In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.