had come right into the church while I was preaching. That night, under cover of darkness, the faith ful deacons escorted me to a safer place where I was to spend the night. I have never sensed a great er need for the Saviour, apart from the need of salvation. Apart from Cod's intervention I would never have been able to come through. We must realize that God can be trusted. He desires to prove that He is all-sufficient. Trials endured for God's glory will result in the crown of life (Jas. 1:12). Have you ever realized that those trials of yours might be a means of your gaining one of the five crowns available for believ ers? How unfortunate that most of us rebel against the things that ir ritate us. We all know how the oyster, when an irritating object like a bit of sand gets under its shell, simply covers it with the precious part of his being, so that it becomes a pearl. In a sense we might say that a pearl is simply a victory over irritation. The more irritations the devil flings at us, the more pearls we may develop by God's grace. So you see, that test in your life right now may simply be God's wonderful way of preparing you for the crown of Life (Rev. 2:10). "Let us not be weary, in well do ing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." Remember, one does not receive the gift of life by enduring temp tations. The gift of life is ours the moment we open our hearts by faith to receive Jesus Christ as Sav iour. For those who have received this wonderful salvation there is a need for faithfully laboring for the Lord. Here is a crown that can be
yours if you have been faithful in enduring that test. There may be heartaches in your life as well as other trials confronting you. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you endure for the honor and glory of the Lord. Someday you will stand be fore Him and hear His, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." You will be given the Crown of Life. The Crown of Glory Of the five crowns mentioned in Scripture the third is found in I Peter 5:4, "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall re ceive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." Some Bible students suggest that this crown will be given on the basis of the believ er's faithfulness in suffering. The context, however, indicates that this crown results in faithfulness in "feeding the flock." In His resur rected body our Lord appeared to Peter asking for his pledge of love. Christ had to ask His disciple three times if he loved Him. The Saviour exhorted him, "Feed my sheep." It is indicated that one may lose this crown. Verse two suggests with the word "constraint" that it is possible to serve by coersion or restraint rather than a willing heart (I Cor. 9:16). Willing service is what Cod desires from His servants. This crown can also be lost if we "feed the flock" seeking personal gain. It is sad to say, and yet very true, that there are those involved in the work of Cod simply because of the monetary value they might gain. We are to "feed the flock" not to fleece them. It is somewhat paradoxical to consider those who become wealthy preaching the Gospel of the poorest Man who ever lived. While it is not for us to Page 25
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker