“Those who pursue the will of God will not always get what they want; but the will always want what they get.” –Zig Ziglar

 As a father I love giving gifts to my children, especially surprise gifts.  I love the look on their faces when I give something unexpected.  I also like to receive gifts from my children.  I have a wide-collection of ties I have never worn, pens I have never used, and various plastic instruments they have purchased from school fund-raising events.  I hold these gifts near to my heart, not because of their intrinsic value but because of the people who gave them to me.

Their gifts are simply reminders of the greater gift –themselves.

When you and I stand before our Holy God, we may or may not receive various crowns (I like to think that I will have one or two).  Those gifts, unlike ties and pens, will have eternal value.  What will make the gift so special, again, is the One Who gives it.  The true reward is not so much receiving a crown, but receiving it from our Lord and Savior.

We will stand before His thrown and salute Him as the King of kings, and the Lord of lords.  There we have no earthly merit to claim.  Our song will be one of grace and mercy.  The value of the crown is not found in the ones who received it, but rather in the One Who gave it.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: Numbers 33-34