Today's Worship: The gift of the crown of life!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:12,

 

 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

 

In a number of places in Scripture we are told that perseverance is a mark of salvation. As John warned against false teachers, his readers would know who they were because they would abandon the faith. "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." 1 John 2:19.

 

"The crown of life"... promised! Once given, the gift of salvation is a promise that the Lord will keep. We read that the Lord himself guarantees our safe trip home to him based on his own faithfulness. "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Corinthians 1:21-22. Also, "He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." Verses 8-9.

 

Here is gift that is like no other. Last night my friend Dave told me of his thoughts of receiving gifts, wrapped in gift wrap with ribbons and bows, and how wonderful it is to receive gifts from those who love us. And to think, the Lord himself has a gift for those who embrace him in faith! A gift beyond our wildest dreams, a gift given with certainty, with God's promise standing behind it! A gift we have received, which we open, which we delight in and which will be ours throughout eternity! I share in Dave's delight and wonderment over this gift beyond all others: the crown of life!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com