the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10. Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Revelation 3:11.
To be "faithful" is something that brings gain to ourselves only and by which God gains nothing: and yet He promises us a crown if we are faithful. There are very few who care for this crown. Besides, to be faithful is impossible for us unless He Himself works it in us; and yet He crowns our faithfulness as if it were a work we had done ourselves. Thus faithful and merciful is the Lord. Does He not deserve our faithfulness? He has Himself been faithful even unto the death on the cross; then it is nothing too much that He demands faithfulness in us, a faithfulness that brings us the crown. But thou unfaithful heart that daily breakest faith and trust, whence wilt thou obtain faithfulness unto death? From Him who grants all grace and virtue, the faithful God, who has promised me all things, and who, because of his faithfulness and truthfulness daily, yea, a thousand times a day, if I need it, gives it to me without upbraiding; He who has made all His faithful servants and all His faithful handmaids who have ever lived faithful unto the end; He who remains faithful even though we become unfaithful; He who much less can forget and forsake us than can a mother her child, a hen her chicks. If the confidence and zeal dwell in your breast to pray to the Lord as often as you are in need, you will hold that fast which you have and not leave your crown to anyone else. Keep your crown which your Savior suffered so much to procure for you, and which you must not ascribe to your own faithfulness, but solely to His grace. He will give it to you, O thou crown in the hand of our Mediator! Shine often before our eyes in such a way that we lay hold of thee, hold thee fast and not let thee go. Lord! strengthen those who are weak.
Why should I shrink from pain and woe.
Or feel at death dismay?
I’ve Canaan’s goodly land in view,
And realms of endless day.
