Uughh...I'm getting terrible at remembering to finish these in a timely way...So sorry, please forgive.
I did this teaching on Judgments and Rewards and if you haven't read the two previous blogs you should see those first. This is Part 3, and the final part of this teaching. The last blog dealt with the first of the Crowns listed as belonging to believers. There's a couple of more in scripture:
I did this teaching on Judgments and Rewards and if you haven't read the two previous blogs you should see those first. This is Part 3, and the final part of this teaching. The last blog dealt with the first of the Crowns listed as belonging to believers. There's a couple of more in scripture:
1. The Crown of Life:
James 1:12 (ESV)
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
The crown of life is awarded to all believers who
sustain their spiritual growth in this life under pressure where growth of
their faith is tested and refined in various trials.
1 Peter 1:6-9 (ESV)
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
By maintaining our faith in times of trouble, we show
the world that we love Jesus Christ more than the world.
Revelation 2:8-11 (ESV)
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) ...
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer... Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) ...
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer... Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
2. The Crown of Glory:
The crown of glory corresponds to the virtue of love and
is awarded to all believers who faithfully and properly fulfill the ministries
assigned to them in life, but I love that in this section of scripture what Peter says.
1 Peter 5:1-4 (ESV)
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Rewards are not the focus…service is.
Sen. Herb Kohl just recently sold the Bucks for several
hundred Million dollars. He sent out to every employee of the Bucks, from Ticket
sellers, to those who swept the arena seats, to janitors, sellers in the food
stands, to office people, a letter of thanks and a $500 check. Now, it’s not a lot of money from the standpoint of what
he got for the sale of the team, but it was a gesture of thanks for what they
had done in serving the organization and not just the paycheck.
We gain reward for Love, based on Motives and
Attitude…doing things in the right way for the right reason.
Philippians 3:8-14 (ESV)
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Lastly, remember this also - there also was once a Crown
of Thorns:
We should remember that Jesus lived a life of perfect
service, service to the point that He died on behalf of us all, and yet He was
rewarded in this life by an ungrateful world with a crown of thorns even though
He is was and still is, The rightful King.
What do we do with all of this teaching on Rewards? How do we maintain a posture of loving obedience that is not motivated by anything other than love for Christ?
1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
The end of Christian love (which faith and hope support)
is serving Christ’s Kingdom:
Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Whatever the task God has given us here on earth, we
persevere knowing that this labor is not in vain in Jesus Christ our Lord.
This is how the Bible ends…when the story is complete:
Revelation 22:12 (NIV)
12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
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