subject: A God Who Is Intentional About Things [print this page] People are always wondering how they grow in their faith, develop spiritually, increase their commitment quotient. It is through the D word, discipline. It is through daily prayer which is communication with God. It is through daily Bible study. It is feeding on His principles and precepts. It is involving ourselves within the context of the church. Many will receive this crown of in corruption.
There is a final crown, the crown of life. The crown of life is described in James 1:12. The half brother of Jesus wrote these words. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life. This crown of life is for those who have endured trials and troubles and tribulations.
You see, we live in a flawed world, a sin-stained planet. And bad things happen to good people. Difficult things happen to good people. Horrible things happen to good people. And the Lord will work through difficult things and great things, average things and super fantastic things. He will work through all of those things and make them good for those of us who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Not that all things are good. Not that all things are peachy keen. But He will use those different things for good if we follow Him. So a lot of people who are going through tragedy right now, I believe will receive the crown of life.
I just want to thank God for being a God of strategy, a God who is so intentional about things. Think about it. Ed-Young says that God has given us the Holy Spirit to work from the inside out to develop these gifts. Think about it. He provides the church for us to learn and understand how to use these abilities. He has given us opportunity after opportunity in life itself to do His work. And He is cheering us on. He cannot wait to give us these awards and rewards.
