Now this is not talking about being saved versus not being saved but about those that profess to be followers of Jesus but shun the sanctifying work of the Word, the Holy Spirit, and the cross in their lives.

        In the sum of all of my adult Christian experience, including the churches I have attended (some with very good teachers), the televangelists and TV pastors I’ve had the occasion to hear, typical Christian books and even the testimonies of Christians of many years, there has little-much been said about the cross.

... there has little-much been said about the cross

        As an adolescent believer in my young life as a Christian, I was woefully lacking a teacher of God’s Word; fortunately I began reading the books written from the notes carefully taken down in the early 20th century by Chinese Christians listening to the teachings of Watchman Nee.

        What he had to say about the flesh and the spirit, sin and the cross, and a dry spiritual life compared to a Holy Spirit-filled life deeply affected me from then and until today—although there were good growth years and some years with failures.

        A few short years later, about 45 years ago and right after Gail and I married, I wrote several essay-type lessons about the needed work of the cross upon the lives of all Christians based on things the Lord helped me to see in the Gospels.

        Those lessons were written under the title “The Potter’s Hammer” with the cover page having my hand-drawn picture of a mallet-type hammer hitting a defective pottery jar but within the hammer was superimposed a sketching of the cross of Jesus Christ.

        My understanding way back then was that all that I was before being born-again from above, all my emotional hang-ups and baggage, a newly saved person’s ego and pride, love and the preoccupation with the world and its things, and my sinful nature, to name a few, all had to die in order for the my new life in Christ to be set free and grow.

I share this with you to let you know that this issue of the work of the cross has been busy in my life for 2/3rds of my life.

        I share this with you to let you know that this issue of the work of the cross has been busy in my life for 2/3rds of my life. These things of our old life require both the work of the Word of God upon our lives and the power of the cross of Christ brought to bear on our old man (the sinful nature) in order to release the life of Christ and the buds, blossoms and fruit of the Holy Spirit.

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† 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it [the preaching of the cross and all that includes: Obedience and submission, sacrifice, shed blood for forgiveness, death to sin’s nature] is the power of God [upon our lives].

† Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

† Philippians 2:8 ...[Jesus] being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross [we are to also].

† Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart [the good versus the bad].

† Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness [filthy habits], 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

        Now, not having an inheritance in the kingdom of God (v. 21) is a broad statement of fact that will include a great many lazy-toward God believers that somehow by a scant faith will not be lost in the Lake of Fire but will live on.

        Others will be heirs and heiresses of the kingdom of God although limited to the enjoyment of it but will not receive of the many rewards that living an increasingly righteous life unto holiness would have entitled them to, if they had.

        And then there will be those that by their devotion to God and His Word and His ways are included in the inheritance but will also receive different blessings in the forms of where they will live in the kingdom (some on the earth and some in the New Jerusalem), including varying levels of spender in their living abodes (KJV “mansions”, but also “abodes or residences”), treasures laid up in Heaven, authority as kings and rulers, and some form of a crown(s) of great honor (things not necessarily literal crowns worn on the head but “a reward of victory or given the marks of honor”).

But these rewards and others are the result of how a believer came to live and walk daily in his or her life on the earth and are not things that will be granted by God to everyone.

        C.S. Lewis said that the cross comes before the crown, and many a sermon and other teachings have resulted by that quote according to an Internet search of this phrase. What did he mean, “The cross before the crown”?

        As I thought about this, a similar phrase came to my mind that might help understanding what C.S. Lewis meant, and from my own life and experience that is this: The crown of thorns will be worn first and in this life—before the crown of glory is bestowed by God in the next life.

        And with this (I believe) being true, few are willing to bear the pain of a thorny crown in this life resulting in the work of the cross, which is needed to put an end to the sinful nature’s power over the believer in the here and now.

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† Matthew 27:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

        In my saying that we must first wear the crown of thorns, what is it to represent? I do not believe the thorny crown that was placed on Jesus’ head was nearly as painful as the cruel whipping He first endured (the “stripes” of († 1 Peter 2:24), which cured us of our greatest healing need from the terminal cancer of sin; do realize that His precious blood began to bleed-forth from His back at that beginning point and to the end of His life on the cross.

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† Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes (by His wounds) we are healed (made whole [again], cured).

† 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

        That crown of thorns was painful (to be sure) and intended to mock and humiliate Jesus but it was not as great and unimaginable pain as was being nailed to the cross. No, His earthly crown pushed down upon His brow came after the beating and before the soon crucifixion.

        For me, and I suggest for all true followers of Jesus, the crown of thorns represents the suffering that we face in our lives and must undergo and endure once we begin living for real as genuine Christians.

        I ask you, what process do we immediately go through as human beings when something suddenly strikes us that we don’t like, which in some way is at the very least very inconvenient, or on other ways hurt us, or is physically, emotionally, or financially painful?

Suffer[ing]: To feel pain or distress; sustain injury or harm. To sustain a setback, loss, or decline of some important area; to become worse-off. To submit to or be forced to endure something unpleasant or contrary to our desires. To have a specified shortcoming or weakness (“You’re not good enough, smart enough, or capable of…”).

“What processes do we go through” as we face suffering as just defined?   Our mind immediately engages in thoughts like these:   How do I fix this quickly? Do I deserve this(?); am I guilty and this is my just due or am I being wrongfully treated? Do I face this head-on or in fear try to hide from it? Where do I go for help? What will others think and how will they treat me? (And so goes our mental processes.)

        No matter what the issues are when they come up, our unrenewed and therefore unspiritual mind immediately begins to “suffer pain or the distress of” human fears and worry, maybe confusion or anger, or even thoughts of blaming of others and wanting revenge in some instances.

        Our “suffering” is a thorny crown upon our minds, and there is a righteous and spiritual way to deal with these things and also a worldly way but the Word of God teaches us that we are called to look upon the sufferings on our lives as followers of Jesus in a certain way.

        Whether in our bodies or relationships or our financial circumstances or even the private thoughts of our minds, for the Christian, suffering serves as a training ground—sufferings are opportunities permitted or arranged by our God for our good, if we will see them in that way.

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† Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. [Before we wear a crown of glory then—we will have worn the crown of thorns in this life as we are remanded to the cross for our freedom.]

† 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [especially when suffering comes].

† Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

† 1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

        I ask you, do you suffer today in some significant way or at least in a way that causes pain in your mind and heart—some thing or things that presently bother you or are trouble for you or maybe even cause some form of pain to you? A failing marriage or other relationship, money problems, serious and ongoing health issue(s), recurring sin, needed repentance or your needed forgiveness of others, maybe even some future threat haunts you daily thoughts?

        As a disciple of Jesus, this is a thorny crown that has value to your spiritual development and for the one-day praise of God and our Savior, if you and I will acknowledge that it has a purpose and earnestly seek the Lord as a result of it.

        The Bible’s word “thorn” means it is “a sharp woody structure that causes irritation or distress” and is thought to be derived from the Greek word meaning “a point”—and so, we should find out what “the point” is of our thorny crown?

        We go to the Lord and say, “Lord, this thing pressed down upon my brow weighs heavily upon my mind; what is it to bring my attention to? Help me by Your Word and Your Spirit.”

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† 2 Timothy 2:8 [Part of Paul’s last writing before his execution:] Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation [“the high calling of God in Christ”] which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Suffering and its purpose is part of the life for a devoted Christian

        Suffering and its purpose is part of the life for a devoted Christian and child of God. I agree with CS Lewis that before the crown in Heaven there is the cross to be borne during our earthly life.

        And what is a great help to us to initiate denying self—while picking up our cross—as we follow Jesus is by the introductory pain and the training that comes by our not tossing it aside but wearing the crown of thorns that come upon our mind, which serve to “point” us to the cross. Let us never forget this:

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† Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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~ Brother Scott ... With ... The Right Word^© ... For Today~

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