Devil Tempts...God Tests...

"The devil tempts that he may ruin; God tests that He may crown." ~ St. Ambrose

Fame or Glory

“Why would we want fame, when God promises us glory? Why would we be seeking the wealth of the world when the wealth of heaven is ours? Why would we run for a crown that will perish with time, when we're called to win a crown that is imperishable?” ~ Paul Washer

Giving that Transforms

"Scripture (Matthew 6:19-20) calls us to break the pattern of laying up treasures for ourselves. Could we accept a challenge of putting a cap on how much of our income we use for ourselves and give every dollar we earn above that cap to Kingdom purposes? In his book The Great Omission, Steve Saint, says some of the "heaviest crowns in heaven" will be worn by hardworking men and women who deny themselves what society says they "deserve" to help finance Great Commission Work. ~ Howard Culbertson (Giving that Transforms)

Race for the Prize, the Real Prize

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NIV 1984)

Cheap Christianity?

‎"A cheap Christianity, without a cross, will prove in the end a useless Christianity, without a crown." ~ J.C. Ryle

A Cross Not a Crown

"God led Jesus to a cross, not a crown, and yet that cross ultimately proved to be the gateway to freedom and forgiveness for every sinner in the world. God also asks us as Jesus' followers to carry a cross. Paradoxically, in carrying that cross, we find liberty and joy and fulfillment."

~ Bill Hybels