James 1:12: Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he is approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
1 Peter 5:2-4: 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.
2 Timothy 4:8: Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
GOD LOVES US with an everlasting love.
He loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son JESUS for our salvation, redemption, forgiveness of sin, deliverance, righteousness and reconciliation to Him, GOD.
Once we SURRENDER to GOD our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strength, TRUST Him as the LORD of ALL, and make CHRIST JESUS our FOUNDATION and the HEAD of our lives, families, plans, present and future, the HOLY SPIRIT leads us, and He directs our paths.
In His love GOD then promises us that He shall never leave us or forsake us; that no weapon formed against us shall prosper; that GREATER is He that is in us than he that is in the world; that we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS and OVERCOMERS through Him who loves us, CHRIST JESUS; that we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed; that all things work together for good for those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose; that NOTHING—neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing—shall be able to separate us from the love of GOD which is in CHRIST JESUS our Lord; and that weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.
GOD, the KING of kings and LORD of lords, in His love for us, blesses us with GOOD gifts: salvation, forgiveness, healing, deliverance, freedom, adoption, righteousness, reconciliation, and the FRUIT of HIS SPIRIT (love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, kindness, goodness, and self-control).
And when we humble ourselves before GOD, He lifts us up; He exalts us, bestowing upon us grace and honor, and as we WALK as JESUS DID, PERSEVERING in FAITH and OVERCOMING adversity IN and THROUGH GOD, relying on GOD’s WORD and His SPIRIT, then GOD promises us eternal CROWNS of LIFE, GLORY, and RIGHTEOUSNESS.
So, if GOD loves us enough to offer us everything, including dominion, authority, and power in the world He created, why would we even desire the unreliable promises or perishable crowns of men?
