Three Things the Lord Desires

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During the little while, the interval of waiting until the Lord Jesus Christ comes for us, what does our Lord expect of us here? Revelation 22 gives the answer. Verse 7: “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this Book.” Thus He teaches us [first] that obedience is what He prizes in His own while they await His coming. Obedience, as we know from John 14, is proof of our love.
He then speaks again [secondly]: “Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (vs. 12). Here we are taught that He looks for faithfulness in His servants and, moreover, that He will recompense them accordingly (compare Luke 19:12-2612He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. (Luke 19:12‑26)).
Again, and for the last time, He speaks: “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly” (vs. 20). The response of John is, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus”—a response which should flow spontaneously from the heart of every saint. Thus we are taught [thirdly] that during the little while we wait, our affections are very precious to Him.
These, then, are the three things which He looks for from us now: obedience, faithfulness and affection.
“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name” (Mal. 3:1616Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16)).
E. Dennett (adapted from a letter)