2025-08-12
1 Peter 5:4 NKJV
The fifth crown is the crown of glory. Peter wrote: “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (vv. 1-4 NKJV).
This crown seems especially designed for pastors and Christian leaders. That doesn’t mean you have to be an official pastor or a member of a church staff. As one pastor explains: “You might be the shepherd of a small group. Your flock might be your family… It might be your Sunday school class… The Lord often gives us responsibility for the spiritual well-being and maturing of others, and what an opportunity to serve Him!”
This raises an interesting question: What are we going to do with these crowns? Revelation 4:10-11 describes a great worship service that will occur when we arrive in heaven. “The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power'” (NKJV). Imagine kneeling before the Lord and laying your crown at His feet, overwhelmed with gratitude for all that He has done for you.
Soul food: Judg 9:34-11:40; Matt 17:1-13; Ps 119:73-80; Pro 20:25
2025-08-11
Revelation 2:10 NKJV
The fourth crown is the crown of life. Two different verses depict it for us. “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12 NKJV). “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
A pastor explains it this way: “The Crown of Life is given in recognition of enduring and triumphing over temptations and trials, even to the point of martyrdom. Motivated by our love for Christ, we persevere and never quit until He takes us home… Almost every New Testament book was written to believers who lived in danger of martyrdom. The apostles counselled them to persevere so they could inherit the Crown of Life.”
Today we are living in one of the most intense periods of persecution in the history of the church. Open Doors, an organization that monitors persecution, reports on the top fifty nations where Christians face the most severe persecution. In 2017, they said trends are getting worse every year, and that “one hundred percent of Christians in twenty-one countries around the world experience persecution for their faith in Christ, and more than 215 million Christians face ‘high levels’ of persecution. Nearly one in every twelve Christians today lives in an area or culture in which Christianity is illegal, forbidden, or punished.”
The Bible says, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV). But the good news is that it gives each of us a marvellous opportunity to lay claim to the crown of life.
Soul food: Judg 7:1-9:33; Matt 16:13-28; Ps 119:65-72; Pro 17:23-26
2025-08-10
2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV
The third crown mentioned in Scripture is the crown of righteousness. Paul writes: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord… will give to me on that Day, and… also to all who have loved His appearing” (vv. 7-8 NKJV).
A pastor amplifies this: “The book of 2 Timothy represents the last known writing of the apostle Paul, and we have reason to believe he was beheaded shortly after writing these words. But rather than dreading death, he was looking forward to the Second Coming. He was… content with his record of service for the Master. Paul’s use of the athletic metaphor here is especially descriptive of the life of the believer because it describes struggle, endurance, discipline, and final victory. The Crown of Righteousness is reserved for those who have a longing for the Lord Jesus and who watch for Jesus to come back.”
Writing to Titus, Paul speaks of “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 NKJV). The pastor continues: “Psychologists tell us that anticipation… is an emotion with marvellous healing powers. People who are snowbound sustain their spirits by anticipating the longer days of spring and summer. Couples… separated by military deployment stay sane by anticipating their reunion… Brides and grooms are eager for their wedding day.”
As a Christian, your best days are ahead of you, and you can anticipate all the glories of heaven and eternity. It should motivate you to be faithful to Jesus as you wait for His return.
Soul food: Josh 2:1-24; Acts 9:20-30
2025-08-09
1 Thessalonians 2:19 NLT
The second crown mentioned in Scripture is the crown of rejoicing. It’s given to those who take part in leading others to Christ. The background for this passage is written about in Acts 17, which tells the story of Paul arriving in the city of Thessalonica.
He went into the synagogue, “and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining… that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ'” (vv. 2-3 NKJV). Some of his hearers were converted, including a great multitude of devout Greeks and a number of prominent women. As a result, a church was built there. Writing to them later, Paul said that they would be his crown when Christ returned.
We should all follow Bill Bright’s example; he was one of the best soul winners of the twentieth century. And he once disclosed his secret: “Although I have shared Christ personally with many thousands of people through the years, I am a rather reserved person and I do not always find it easy to witness. But I have made this my practice, and I urge you to do the same: Assume that whenever you are alone with another person for more than a few moments, you are there by divine appointment to explain… the love and forgiveness he [or she] can know through faith in Jesus Christ.”
When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone? Whenever you do, the Lord is fitting you for a crown of rejoicing.
Soul food: Judg 4-6; Matt 16:1-12; Ps 119:57-64; Pro 17:22
2025-08-08
1 Corinthians 9:25 NKJV
In describing our heavenly rewards, the Bible speaks of crowns. Let’s look at each and see what we can learn.
The first is the victor’s crown. “Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (vv. 25-27 NKJV). Paul points out that athletes who expect to win must actively train. And we, likewise, must retain self-control even in things that, although not inherently evil, can weaken our devotion to God.
A pastor explains: “Sometimes we have to turn off the television so we can study our Bibles. We have to get up earlier in the mornings to have our daily devotions. We have to exercise self-control in what comes into our minds. We can’t watch many of today’s television programs or movies – much less the streaming material accessible on our phones and computers – without violating biblical standards of personal holiness. We can’t subject our bodies to drug or alcohol abuse or allow immorality to creep into our relationships. We’ve got to keep our tempers [and tongues] under the control of the Holy Spirit… and we have to depend on God to strengthen us in our resolutions to live disciplined lives.”
The Bible says, “Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” – the victor’s crown.
Soul food: Judg 1-3; Matt 15:29-39; Ps 119:49-56; Pro 17:18-21
2025-08-07
1 Corinthians 6:20 MSG
Columnist Ann Landers wrote: “Girls need to prove their love through illicit sexual relations like a moose needs a hat rack. Why not prove your love by sticking your head in the oven and turning on the gas or by playing leapfrog in the traffic? It’s about as safe. Clear the cobwebs out of your head! Any fellow who asks you to prove your love is trying to take you for the biggest, most gullible fool who ever walked. That proving it bit is one of the… rottenest lines ever invented… Someone who loves you wants whatever is best for you. But now figure it out. He wants you to commit an immoral act, surrender your virtue, throw away your self-respect, risk the loss of your precious reputation, and risk getting [pregnant, getting diseased, or] into trouble. [Wise up!] He wants… what is best for him; he wants a thrill he can brag about at your expense.
Love? Who’s kidding whom? A guy who loves a girl would sooner cut off his right arm than hurt her. [In truth], this self-serving [individual] has proved that he doesn’t love you [at all]. The predictable aftermath… always finds Don Juan tiring of his sport. That’s when he drops you, picks up his line, and goes casting elsewhere for… equally silly fish. If he loves you, let him prove his love… [at] the altar.”
If you want some sound scriptural advice about 5ex, here it is: “Your body is… sacred… The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body” (vv. 19-20 MSG).
Soul food: Ruth 1-4; Matt 15:15-28; Ps 119:41-48; Pro 17:17
