IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2008
James 1: 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Revelation 2: 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
And these two are the only King James verses wherein I found the phrase ‘crown of life’. I located 84 references to ‘crown’ but this morning I want to share with you what I have learned about the ‘crown of life’.
The Greek word for crown is stephanos and it means a mark of royal or in general exalted rank; also the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games; and eternal blessedness.
And the Greek word for life is Zoe and its meaning is the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate; absolute fullness of life; life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous. And this word Zoe is a derivative of the Greek verb ZAO which means to live, breathe, be among the living, to enjoy real life, active, blessed, endless to be in full vigour, to be fresh, strong, efficient; active, powerful efficacious.
The Greek word for LIFE used here lays to rest any idea that Heaven will be a place of sitting on a cloud plucking a harp for eternity. Yesterday as I studied these words I was thinking of those I love who have already passed from this life to LIFE there. They are NOT dead they are more alive than we. They have absolute fullness of life. They are strong and active, powerful and efficacious. And we have that to look forward to!! Every Soul that LOVES JESUS has this to look forward to. Do you see that in James 1: 12? Which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Do you see that this Crown of Life, this exalted rank, this royal prize is worth it all? Lets look at that Greek word for Love just a moment.
In James 1:12 the Greek word used is Agapao and it means to welcome, to entertain, to love dearly, to be well pleased, to be contented at or with. Associated Greek words are Phileo meaning to love, to approve of, to like, to sanction, to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, to befriend. And philos meaning to be friendly to one, wish him well.
Lets look at the whole verse again. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. This crown of life is promised to those who Love Him. And who loves Him? Those who are well pleased with Him, contented with Him; those who welcome Him; those who love Him dearly; those who endure and overcome the temptation to ‘love’ themselves instead of Him; the temptation to be their own god and do their own thing rather than receive His righteousness and abide in Him. That is the temptation that keeps a soul from salvation and that is the temptation that keeps a Christian from experiencing fullness of life.
Meditate on this today and I believe you will know even more that Heaven is more exciting, more alive, more efficacious (I looked it up that word means: Producing or capable of producing a desired effect; producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect; marked by qualities giving the power to produce an intended effect) than we can comprehend or imagine. In Heaven, our creativity will ‘explode’ in holy pleasure! A Crown of Life — and that’s NO JOKE!!
Mom was released from the hospital to a skilled facility for rehab. Please keep praying for her as you will. And me too; I am human and I am sad that all this is necessary. Thank you for your loving prayers.
Father, thank You for what You are telling and teaching us here. Thank You for the Home You are building for us and for the Universe of Creativity that You have for us to do when we get there with You. We can only imagine. Thank You.
This morning we come with this list and we entrust each and every name and situation to You for we KNOW You are Able and Willing. Thank You Father. Keep Our IDOK Troops safe, return them to us, forgive America, bring Israel into Her Peace and revive Your Church for Jesus sake. Amen and amen.
Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Smith and family. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Jeremy H. Pastor’s Widow and four children. Martin Family. Odessa H. Margie & Duncan. Kearley Family. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Bev and family. Tonya and family. Rick Burgess and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glen and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
The Peace of Israel
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Bay N.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside:
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.
Civilian in Country – Lee.
As I post this it is 82°F and sunny in Baghdad & the time there is 5:17PM ADT- on April 1, 2008
His Ministry to You
Revelation 2: 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
And these two are the only King James verses wherein I found the phrase ‘crown of life’. I located 84 references to ‘crown’ but this morning I want to share with you what I have learned about the ‘crown of life’.
The Greek word for crown is stephanos and it means a mark of royal or in general exalted rank; also the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games; and eternal blessedness.
And the Greek word for life is Zoe and its meaning is the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate; absolute fullness of life; life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous. And this word Zoe is a derivative of the Greek verb ZAO which means to live, breathe, be among the living, to enjoy real life, active, blessed, endless to be in full vigour, to be fresh, strong, efficient; active, powerful efficacious.
The Greek word for LIFE used here lays to rest any idea that Heaven will be a place of sitting on a cloud plucking a harp for eternity. Yesterday as I studied these words I was thinking of those I love who have already passed from this life to LIFE there. They are NOT dead they are more alive than we. They have absolute fullness of life. They are strong and active, powerful and efficacious. And we have that to look forward to!! Every Soul that LOVES JESUS has this to look forward to. Do you see that in James 1: 12? Which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Do you see that this Crown of Life, this exalted rank, this royal prize is worth it all? Lets look at that Greek word for Love just a moment.
In James 1:12 the Greek word used is Agapao and it means to welcome, to entertain, to love dearly, to be well pleased, to be contented at or with. Associated Greek words are Phileo meaning to love, to approve of, to like, to sanction, to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, to befriend. And philos meaning to be friendly to one, wish him well.
Lets look at the whole verse again. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. This crown of life is promised to those who Love Him. And who loves Him? Those who are well pleased with Him, contented with Him; those who welcome Him; those who love Him dearly; those who endure and overcome the temptation to ‘love’ themselves instead of Him; the temptation to be their own god and do their own thing rather than receive His righteousness and abide in Him. That is the temptation that keeps a soul from salvation and that is the temptation that keeps a Christian from experiencing fullness of life.
Meditate on this today and I believe you will know even more that Heaven is more exciting, more alive, more efficacious (I looked it up that word means: Producing or capable of producing a desired effect; producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect; marked by qualities giving the power to produce an intended effect) than we can comprehend or imagine. In Heaven, our creativity will ‘explode’ in holy pleasure! A Crown of Life — and that’s NO JOKE!!
Mom was released from the hospital to a skilled facility for rehab. Please keep praying for her as you will. And me too; I am human and I am sad that all this is necessary. Thank you for your loving prayers.
Father, thank You for what You are telling and teaching us here. Thank You for the Home You are building for us and for the Universe of Creativity that You have for us to do when we get there with You. We can only imagine. Thank You.
This morning we come with this list and we entrust each and every name and situation to You for we KNOW You are Able and Willing. Thank You Father. Keep Our IDOK Troops safe, return them to us, forgive America, bring Israel into Her Peace and revive Your Church for Jesus sake. Amen and amen.
Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Smith and family. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Jeremy H. Pastor’s Widow and four children. Martin Family. Odessa H. Margie & Duncan. Kearley Family. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Bev and family. Tonya and family. Rick Burgess and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glen and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
The Peace of Israel
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Bay N.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside:
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.
Civilian in Country – Lee.
As I post this it is 82°F and sunny in Baghdad & the time there is 5:17PM ADT- on April 1, 2008
His Ministry to You
