Crowns of No Worth Here

A diadema is a greek word meaning a head piece signifying royalty.  Wearing a crown may be nice for a time, but in the long run frivolous to own. You might even donate it to the goodwill, or sell it to make some money.  An earthly crown is of no worth to a believer because a heavenly one is promised to us.

 

Another crown is a stephanos,  which is a victors crown made of leaves (like olive) or flowers. This was given to the winners of athletic games, warriors, or honored people. With Jesus we have freedom to look forward to heaven, making these worldly crowns look silly. 1 John 5:4-5 says, ‘’for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”He loved us with with such a great love Even when we were still dead because of our sins, He made  us alive by what Christ did for us. Believers have been saved from the punishment of sin. God raised us up through Christ Jesus. He has given you a crown in the heavens.

Worldly crowns are useless when we have heavenly ones waiting for us. 

Love Like Jesus

Being fond of family and friends usually comes naturally. Your arch enemies? Not so easy. Someone hurting you or causing troubles is a challenge, like someone nailing you to a cross. The perfect example of loving your enemies comes from our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though He was being nailed to a cross, He did not seek revenge on all the evil people of this world, but actually forgave them. Luke 23:34 “Then Jesus said ‘Father forgive them They do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided His clothes by drawing names.” This was a supremely awful event, yet Jesus displayed kindness to them. He is amazing! We need to have in our heart’s the same love as Him as it encourages this from 1 John 4:7 “Dear friends, let us love each other, because love comes from God those who love are God’s children and they know God.” Love because God loves us and we know God.

Get On the Triangle

 Always stay alert, stay alive, there are counterfeit teachers everywhere. You can’t listen to everything you hear on social media or the news or anything from this world.  John warns us not to aimlessly fall for the lies of worldly spirits in 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,  for there are many false teachers of the world.” Their lies will lead you down the path of hell.

When you study Scripture and listen to true teachers who preach straight from the Bible, your love grows for God and for others. Imagine a triangle with the top being God the two bottom parts are believers. As each believer loves they grows closer to Him, the distance between them shortens, which represents them growing closer to each other in their love for each other… even through sinning we are still loving. Romans 3:23 says “we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We can mess up and trip by listening to counterfeits at times, but thank goodness that we have a loving God to forgive us and set us straight.

All Aboard the Heavenly Bus

Get behind me Satan, I’m not on your bus anymore as it says in 1 John 3:1 “See what the love of the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The  reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” Tread past Satan’s wheels which steer you to hell and hop aboard Jesus’ bus which takes you to heaven. 

When on Satan’s ride, sure it’s fun for a little, but that all ceases and crashes. Christ’s engine to heaven is full of praising the Lord and saying “get behind me Satan”as it says from Matthew 16:23 “But he turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan!You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting on things of God but on the things of man.”

Get the directions right, check the bus route, there is no eternal joy with Satan’s drive, let Jesus take the wheel.

Have It God’s Way

Sneaky sneaky, don’t be a wolf having a sheep disguise on and tricking others in believing in lies. While they are just playing a part, pretending to have Christ in their hearts when they speak words opposite of God’s truth. We are warned about wolves in sheep clothing in 2 Peter 2:12, “But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instincts they too will perish.” We have to watch out for the tricksters, they feign innocence and love all while trying to deceive believers. Kick the wolf to the curb and keep your focus on the good Shepherd Jesus, be committed by reading Scripture. Matthew 7:15 also warns us by saying, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” It’s not like we are ordering from Burger King have it your way but we are called to live as sheep listening for our Shepherd Christ. As Romans 6:1-2 encourages us saying, “What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? Of course not, we died to sin; how can we live in it longer?” 

We must identify counterfeit messages and be more and more committed to God’s Word. We aren’t ordering from burger King have it your way, we are ordering rom the Lord’s way-have it His way, following life according to His Word.  

Don’t be an Eeyore, Look Like You’re Having Fun

 

As believers, we are called to be good examples to non believers. Being  inaccessible about God to either your unbelieving spouse or acquaintances in your everyday life is not the right method to live by. Don’t sound like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh who says,  “okay if I must”, rather, encourage people by living a godly life. 1 Peter 3:1-2 says, “In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the good news, your godly lives speak to them without any words, they will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.”

Put a smile, even if you’re just doing some house work, this will show others the joy you get from the Lord. Just as Jesus submitted to His Father by dying on the cross, we also must submit to our God, not being reluctant or obstinate. By doing this we will be good example to others, showing them the love we receive from God.

Strike That, Reverse That

 In this world, not of this world, this is how Christ’s believers need to be. Not wearing an astronaut suit so you’re not breathing “bad” air, but living a life that exemplifies Christ to nonbelievers. Don’t live like the world by only looking out for yourself but live centered around Christ.  1 Peter 2:10 says, “Once you were not a people. But now you are the people of God.” Now that you are centered around Jesus don’t compromise with the world and live selfishly thinking that you are all that matters. Strike that, reverse it, make Christ the only One who matters. Choose not to let yourself be contaminated with this world, be in it but not of. “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts…having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles…” 1 Peter 2:11-12 We’re to live in this world, but not be of this world.