(15) Crown of Life, A Future Promise

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, the “Candle of Love”.

Scripture:
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

The ornament for today is a crown

Thoughts:

A crown is the ultimate reward. It can be for a pursuit or for an ambition, but it represents reaching the pinnacle and gaining mastery.

Gaining a crown also means retaining something lasting.

There are many sorts of crowns. That of the Olympic athlete was one made of simple laurel leaves; that of an emperor was of gold and jewels. Conquerors gained actual and metaphorical ones in their victories, but the crown spoken of today is the ultimate:

The crown of life. It is the crown of an overcomer.

Today, there is a real repugnance for even the idea testing and trials, and the gain of a crown might easily be undervalued- even an immortal life. So much of the emphasis of our culture is on “getting all the gusto” we can. At Christmas, it could seem that the merit of ones own satisfaction far outweighs that of sacrificing anything of our own pleasure and desire for others.

But today,  take a few moments and consider how Christ came to the earth in simplicity, for the sake of living a sacrificial life for our great gain. How He laid aside his own heavenly crown to allow for us to be part of his future rule. He didn’t want to have a Kingdom without us.

Any trial is worth persevering through… that is why the man who does so is called “Blessed”. That will be a person who finds long lasting happiness. Will it be you?

Take small steps by trying to be more patient with those in your own house, among your own friends and family. Train for the attaining the crown. It will be worth it in the end.

Hymn:

“Crown Him With Many Crowns”

 

Carol:

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

1 Corinthians 13
Love
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.