THE CROWN: “YOU WILL RECEIVE A CROWN OF GLORY”

[PACE]

“They help me keep my ministry up to date.”

It’s confession time: Because of my interest deficit, until very recently I had only a vague notion of what a crown of glory is. Other biblical pursuits had higher priority. But now – WOW! I finally did the research and discovered the treasure I had bypassed. Now I feel about crowns as Paul felt about spiritual gifts – “I do not want you to be ignorant.”So, let’s learn about crowns. Because Greek culture had permeated Jewish culture, the New Testament uses olive-leaf crowns earned by the Olympic winners as a metaphor to teach about the Crown of Glory – “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Here’s how to know in advance how we’ll fare when our Master appears: At the end of each day (or week, or month,) take a mental or paper inventory of how well you’re doing. The inventory will affirm you and also give you a chance to correct the deeds not done or done poorly.

Lay pastors anticipating the crown, i.e. making sure they are serving their Lord well by pastoring his people well, have much in common with college students approaching their finals – If day by day they do their work well, they will be in good shape, but if they depend on pressure-cooker-last-minute attempts they are in serious trouble. One lay pastor told how much she appreciated the monthly reports: “They help me keep my ministry up to date.” Please note: The crown is not our ticket to heaven, Jesus paid for that; we work to earn a crown so we can honor him by laying it before his throne.

ACTION POINT: Would you read these sentences. Is it adaptable to you and also to lay pastors, lay people today? 

Short Paper