Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
What is the crown of the Christian? Sometimes we think of the gray hair which is a crown to an old person. We might picture good and noble actions as a crown, or possibly being surrounded by family and friends. But in our Psalm this week, we are crowned with grace and mercy (Psalm 103:4). This is certainly not our work or anything that our family, friends or society can give us. It is a gift of God.
Just as a crown symbolically associates a monarch with the power and authority of the realm, the crown of grace and mercy given by God associates us with God’s authority. It is as we wear the crown given us that we are enabled to spread his kingdom to our world, to be messengers for him, to bring his grace and mercy to a lost and dying generation which is losing hope day by day.
How do we do this? It seems quite a task. We love and serve our neighbor. By so doing we are spreading the news of God’s grace and mercy. We are using the crown he has given us to share his blessing with others. So doing we bring hope and life to our community.
Lord, give us grace to both wear your crown of grace and mercy and to share your lovingkindness with others.
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