2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: Finally, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give to me on that day: and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
As Scotland was declaring its independence from England in the 1300s, the English were hunting for Robert Bruce of Scotland in an attempt to prevent his accession to the Scottish throne. In the search, the English put Bruce’s own bloodhounds on his trail. As they grew closer to apprehending him, Robert the Bruce found a small river. He said to his foster brother who was with him, “Let us wade down this stream for a great way instead of going straight across, and so these unhappy hounds will lose the scent, for if we were once clear of them, I should not be afraid of getting away from the pursuers.”
Robert the Bruce escaped his pursuers by entering a river, and not long afterward, the crown of Scotland rested on his head.
The devil uses our own “sin-hounds” to hunt us relentlessly — past and present sins, he uses to keep us from our crown, our position with Yeshua (Jesus), and the rewards that will follow a life of abiding in Him. But we also have a way of escape! Entering into the river of God, which flows with the blood of Yeshua, being totally cleansed, the “hounds of sin” cannot touch us, and we, too, can come out on the other side, free and ready to reign with Him!
Allow your sins to be washed away — swept into eternity by the cleansing flow of the blood of Christ, and walk in the freedom that Yeshua provided 2000 years ago. Let your past, with all its sins, be washed downstream, realizing that a crown of righteousness awaits you and every saint who loves His appearing!
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy Devotions. This devotional was originally published on Worthy Devotions and was reproduced with permission.
More Devotions
“Don’t be anxious”…even though it’s a perfectly natural response to mounting threats; sickness, finances, employment, uncertainty, emotional stress, family crises…Nevertheless, it says, “Don’t be anxious about anything”. Instead, pray!
Counselors, encouragers, and people who offer care to others often encounter those whose past failures threaten to define them and hinder their development, healing, and sanctification. Our enemy capitalizes on our failures and regrets, pressing home the current influence of what we could have, would have, or should have done, if only we were wiser, more courageous, honest, or godly.
Throughout the world, millions of dollars are spent on priceless works of art. I’m always amazed at how much people will pay for one painting — some are considered virtually priceless. But what makes a masterpiece? It’s not a what — it’s a “who” — a master makes a masterpiece!
I heard a story about a man who was imprisoned during Napoleons reign. While sulking in his dungeon one day, he etched on the wall the words “Nobody Cares”.
A careful reading through the life of the Apostle Paul will yield insight concerning those who surrounded him. In this brief devotion, I want to focus on two of Paul’s friends — Luke and Demas.
Patience is one of those attributes that you cannot learn by reading about it. It’s a quality that can only be acquired by persistent, enduring, practice– and for me it’s a drill that I go over, and over, and over again!
For over 25 years we’ve been covering Christian Persecution, and whenever I come across an amazing story of how a saint endured such hardships, it encourages me. I remember reading about Watchman Nee and his imprisonment. The Chinese government would change the guards at his cell daily for fear that Nee would lead them to the Lord. Their fears were justified — many of those guards did come to faith! Apparently Watchman Nee had learned a powerful lesson from the Apostle Paul.