• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Observe Advent
  • The Jesse Tree
  • Resources
  • About
  • Privacy

Ilona's Advent Blog

Looking forward to a Christian Christmas

(15) Crown of Life, A Future Promise

13.12.09 | The Candlelighter | No Comments

four Advent candles

Crown of Life

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.

crown

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.

Crown


Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Print
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Pocket

Related

← Previous Post
(14) Four Steps To Success
Next Post →
(16) God Promises He Loves You

About The Candlelighter

I love Christmas and one of my favorite parts of are the Advent preparations. I have made this site since starting to create Christmas pages for Ilona's Reflecting Pool.

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • Little Christmas Project Done in Single Day
  • Christmas Carols: Good King Wenceslas

Ideas

  • Our Advent Log
  • Advent Wreath
  • Symbols
  • Resources

Christmas Is Coming!

  • Holiday Planning
  • Christmas Decor
  • Tree Themes
  • Advent Traditions

Latest Advent Devotions

  • Little Christmas Project Done in Single Day
  • Christmas Carols: Good King Wenceslas
  • First Sunday of Advent

Categories

Treats

christmas joy

Candle of Joy Compilation

For an Advent wreath, this is the pink candle, or the "Candle of Joy". We move closer to the celebration of Christmas, and we may make a choice to … [Read More...] about Candle of Joy Compilation

More Posts from this Category

Goodies ‘N Sweets

The Christmas Cookie

Candy Cane Cupcakes

view more

Tags

Abraham advent Advent traditions angels awaken candle of hope candle of joy candle of love candle of peace candy cane carol carols Christian symbols Christmas crafts Christmas story cookie recipe crown day 9 faith giving giving God's love God's love hope Isaiah Jesse tree Jesus Joseph joy kids activity light of the world love lyrics Mary Messiah music nativity peace preparations promises of God recipe seed faith song star thankfulness wise men

Carols

Christmas Carols: Good King Wenceslas

All Through the Night Lyrics

coloring book bethlehem

Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem

Meditations

christmas is a joyful season

Is Happiness the Same as Joy?

It seems as though words so closely linked as "joy" and "happiness" would become interchangeable in … [Read More...] about Is Happiness the Same as Joy?

fairyland canyon starry night

We Are Small

In our world, we are small, and likewise, in the universe our world is infinitesimal. Many people … [Read More...] about We Are Small

Unexpected Places

You must admit that God chooses some unexpected places to show up. Bethlehem might have seemed … [Read More...] about Unexpected Places

More Posts from this Category

Past Devotionals

Footer

You might also like

christmas joy

Candle of Joy Compilation

christmas peace message

Acts of Peace in a Warring World

Comfort and Joy on Day Four

Ilona’s Advent Blog

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Copyright © 2023 · LovingChristmas

Hazel Theme by Code + Coconut