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Respite For the Weary
In my soon-to-release children's book Christmas Morning, a little girl opens one gift after another, and each one of these presents take her on an exciting and whimsical adventure in her very own living room. These tangible gifts are meant to symbolize deeper intangible truths that we all have in Christ.
The first gift the little girl opens is a crown. This is not an ordinary crown --the kind that eventually gets lost in the bottom of a dress-up container. Rather, it symbolizes the crown that we are given through our faith in Christ. When the little girl puts it on her head, a thrill runs all the way down to her toes and then her living room is teeming with LIFE--a vibrant tree, birds, butterflies and bunnies appear. She freely sings, skips, hops and does cartwheels all around the room! When all of these things eventually disappear, the thrill that the crown gives her does not.
May I remind you that if you believe in Jesus, he has given you a CROWN OF LIFE? All too often we strive to put tangible crowns on our heads--crowns of beauty, fame and fortune. These headpieces only weigh us down. In stark contrast, the crown that Jesus gives us lifts our chin and causes us to walk lightheartedly as his winsome ambassadors. Who wouldn't want this crown? Well, we have it! Jesus gave it to us!
LET'S PUT ON OUR CROWN OF LIFE, and by faith, let's freely walk (sing, skip, hop, and do cartwheels) because of these biblical truths:
Psalm 103:4
(Bless the Lord)...who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
Psalm 8:4-5
What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
Isaiah 61:3
(The Spirit of the Lord is upon me)...to grant those who mourn in Zion--to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
John 10:10
...I came that they might have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
Galatians 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Like the little girl in the story, we can say with delight, "My chin is up, because I'm wearing his crown."
Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them. Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three when they spoke to Pharoah. Exodus 7:6-7
Dear Lord,
Help us to remember that we are never too old to answer your call! We ask for obedient hearts to do your specified will in the present moment. We believe that you will equip us with both the strength and the ability as we move forward in faith. In Jesus' Name, Amen.