When I read today's verse, I looked into the word "crown" a bit more, and found in the footnotes that this word in Greek was used to describe the victory wreath that was placed on the head of a winning athlete or military leader. In other words, it was their trophy, their honorable mention. Reading the part about the athlete brought to mind competing in a race. There's the one person who will possibly burst out at the start and then her energy will disappear and she'll just give in and rest or walk to recover, and maybe go in spurts like that. There's the other that will half-run without giving it much thought. Then there is the one that knows that there is a very important, beautiful trophy at the end and purposes to run with a plan and persevere despite the burning muscles and the aching feet and arms. This one knows that the reward will be that much sweeter if she goes all out and does her best every minute, not once giving up to the "weakness" associated with walking.
When I ran a half-marathon last year, I can distinctly remember seeing these sorts of competitors. Unfortunately, I was part of the first description. I wasn't fully prepared for it, and I fearfully gave into my pain and soreness towards the end, wondering if I would make it otherwise. And I have to admit, when I crossed the finish line with all the cheering around me and with someone immediately there to put a medal around my neck, I felt a bit undeserving. I still felt joy and accomplishment, but it wasn't the same, I imagined, as the joy I would have felt from pushing myself more through the times of pain.
This is a way I understand today's reading.
A person who calls herself a Christian may go halfheartedly through her faith life or go in erratic spurts of strength and weakness of faith, giving into the world and it's trials often. When God calls her home, she'll repent and I'm sure she'll be in heaven.
Then there is a Christian that perseveres, that lets trials test her mettle, that faces them with joy because she understands the quality of her reward for doing so. When God calls her home, I just wonder if her joy and reward will seem all the more wonderful?
I see verse 12 as God holding out for us our inspiration, if you will, to persevere in our earthly, difficult lives of faith. He knows that we are weak-willed humans without his strength, so he offers it like armor for the battle.
I pray today that God would give me a better daily vision of this crown of life, our reward, so that I may claim it with exuberance and joy on the day he calls me home.
Like they say, live today like it could be your last. :)
By his power, girls, I pray you do!!
Have a beautiful new week!
Cait
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"I pray today that God would give me a better daily vision of this crown of life, our reward, so that I may claim it with exuberance and joy on the day he calls me home."
ReplyDeletea beautiful prayer that I will adopt, too! Thank you for your godly insights, Caitlin. :)
I wanted to say, too, that, though you might not have finished the way you wanted to in the race, your daily perseverance to keep striving toward that goal of running the race is very admirable...I'm so proud of you that you went for it! And from pictures I saw of you, you toned up and chiseled your body in the process. you are inspiring. :)
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