Crowned

Psalm 103:2-5 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

Psalm 103, verses 2-5 speak of some of God’s many blessings. Verse 3 talks of His forgiveness of all our sins, healing all our diseases, redeeming our life from the pit, satisfying our desires with good things, and renewing our youth like the eagles.

The word crowns in verse 4 means in part, “to bestow on as a mark of honor or recompense.” No one truly deserves honor compared with our holy God.  What a wonder that God crowns us with love and compassion.

Those who’ve trusted in Jesus receive a special mark of honor, and that is redemption. We are released from our sins. A deep well of love and compassion is at our disposal. We sense God’s love through the gift of the Holy Spirit who comforts, guides, and helps. God’s word tells us He loves us!

God’s compassion is expressed in many ways, often by our church family as we gather together. When I’ve faced hard times, my brothers and sisters, including my pastors, have come alongside me. What greater compassion is there than to have friends to lean on and run to? That reveals another aspect of the crowning of love and compassion. Because of God’s power in us, our lives express love and compassion to people around us. Serving, praying for, and loving one another are natural outflows and reflect the crowned life He has bestowed upon us.

My crowned sisters and brothers, drink deep of God’s many benefits, and one day you will receive a crown of life as you enter eternity with Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:10).