December 26, 2019

        And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away (1 Peter 5:4).
 
    In this the two apostles are in perfect harmony, for Paul declares in 2 Timothy 4:1 that the Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the living and the dead at His appearing, and adds in verse 8: "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."  This is the crowning time, at "his appearing."
 
    Everything depends upon His appearing, His return.  We are to love His appearing.  We are to look for the glorious appearing (Titus 2:13).  He who appeared in the presence of God as our high priest will appear the second time without sin unto salvation to them that look for him (Heb. 9:24, 28).  Are we looking for Him?  When the Chief Shepherd appears, the undershepherds will find their reward, and the sheep their eternal home.
 
    Dean Farrar relates that Queen Victoria, after hearing one of her chaplains preach at Windsor on the second advent of Christ, spoke to the dean about it and said, "O how I wish the Lord would come during my lifetime."
 
    "Why does Your Majesty feel this very earnest desire?" asked the great preacher.
 
    With her countenance illuminated with deep emotion the queen replied, "Because I should so love to lay my crown at His feet."
 
                                And when I shall see His glory face to face,
                                Hear His glad welcome, feel His fond embrace,
                                And feast on the fulness of His heavenly grace,
                                I shall be satisfied then.
                                                                        __Horatius Bonar
 
 
MEDITATION PRAYER:  "The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice" (Ps. 21:1).