The Cross Before the Crown – Day 350 Through the Bible

The Cross and Crown - Quiltblock on Higgins Memorial United Methodist Church that is part of the Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina - near Mt. Celo Church.

My Meditations on Today’s Readings

(Ellipses are mine and are used for contemplation.)

Key Words/Phrases: pride, deceived, dismayed, cut off, shamed; as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head; Answer me, cause me, deliver me, revive me; the four angels, the angel having the seal of the living God; a multitude of all nations, tribes, people, and tongues; the Lamb will shepherd them and lead them.

The Pride of Your Heart Has Deceived You – Obadiah – (Facts: What It Says – Summarized) God’s Judgment on The Pride of Edom: I will make you small among the nations; you shall be greatly despised.  The pride of your heart has deceived you…you who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground? The Reason for the Judgment: You have gazed on…rejoiced over…spoken proudly…cut off…delivered up the children of Israel in the day of their captivity, distress, affliction, distress, calamity.  As you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head. A Return of Blessings to Israel: But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance…holiness…they shall possess their possessions…and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.  Principle: When God judges His people, others should not take pleasure in that judgment nor add to His people’s calamity.

No Pride, No Deception, Total Reliance on God – Psalm 143: 7-12 – (Facts: What It Says – Summarized) David’s Plea: Answer me speedily, O LORD…do not hide our face from me…Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness…Cause me to know the way in which I should walk…Deliver me, O LORD from my enemies…Teach me to do Your will…Lead me in the land of uprightness…Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake!The Basis of David’s Prayer: For in You do I trust…for I lift up my soul to You…In You I take shelter…for You are my God…Your Spirit is good…for I am Your servant.  David’s Dilemma: My spirit fails…bring my soul out of trouble, for Your righteousness’ sake…cut off my enemies, in Your mercy…destroy all those who afflict my soul.  Principle: David’s prayers are very direct in petitioning God for what He needs based on God’s character – His mercy, His righteousness, His lovingkindness, His goodness, His name.  David also lays his soul bear before God, putting his full trust and faith in Him…”for You are my God…for I am Your servant.”  There is no pride, no deception, only total reliance on God – even from this great king of Israel

Pride that Brought the Apocalypse - Revelation 7 – (Facts: What It Says – Summarized) The Vision of 5 Angels: I saw 4 angels standing at the 4 corners of the earth, holding the 4 winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea or on any tree, to whom it was granted to harm the earth and sea. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God, telling the angels to do no harm until they have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.  The Vision before the Throne: The number of these are 144,000 – 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.  I looked…and standing before the throne and the Lamb, clothed with white robes, were a great multitude of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne ad to the Lamb!’  The angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures…fell on their faces…and worshipped God, saying, ‘Amen! Blessing…and glory…and wisdom…Thanksgiving…honor…and power…and might…be to our God forever and ever. Amen. The Elder’s Explanation of Those in White Robes: These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation…and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  They shall…be before His throne and serve Him day and night.  He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.  They shall never hunger nor thirst anymore.  The sun shall not strike them, nor any heat…for the Lamb…who is in the midst of the throne…will shepherd them…and lead them…to living fountains of waters.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Principle: Suffering before glorification; the cross before the crown; the reward - eternity with God.

My Lessons and Applications:  How do I react when others undergo trials and hardships?  Do I rejoice in this if they are my enemies?  Do my actions – or lack of actions – make the trial more bearable for God’s people or more difficult?  Am I prideful that the calamity did not strike me but rather them?  In my prayers, am I as humble and trusting before God as King David was?  Do I pour out my soul before Him, acknowledging the greatness of His character and my submission as His servant?  Does The Revelation make me long for, cry for, the return of Christ, for His glorification?  Am I fulfilling the Great Commission as I await His return?

Heaven stands not first but second, and only by persevering to the end can we win a portion in it. The cross must be carried before the crown can be worn. We must follow our Lord in his humiliation, or we shall never rest with him in glory.

My soul, what sayest thou, art thou so vain as to hope to break through the heavenly rule? Dost thou hope for reward without labour, or honour without toil? Dismiss the idle expectation, and be content to take the ill-favoured things for the sake of the sweet love of Jesus, which will recompense thee for all. In such a spirit, labouring and suffering, thou wilt find bitters grow sweet, and hard things easy. Like Jacob, thy years of service will seem unto thee but a few days for the love thou hast to Jesus; and when the dear hour of the wedding feast shall come, all thy toils shall be as though they had never been-an hour with Jesus will make up for ages of pain and labour.  Charles Spurgeon – Morning and Evening