Our Joy and Crown of Rejoicing

By Pastor Bill

When I was in Grade nine, I stayed over at a friend’s place the night before his Saturday morning practice at our high school’s outdoor running track. Track wasn’t my sport, but I had been invited to join the three cheetahs on our school’s junior track-and-field team.

The teacher-supervisor that morning was Mr. Greenjeans, a tall, skinny, red-haired, bundle of enthusiasm who seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of encouragement. For our long-distance run (7 and ½ laps), he had more than enough cheering power to compensate for my leaky gas tank.
During the final two laps, he focused on me because I was starting to lag behind. With his gangly, long-legged, giraffe-like gallop, Mr. Greenjeans was running on the grass right alongside me. He was urging me and encouraging me to do what I wanted to do: get to the finish line! And when I finally did, he paid no attention to my lack of speed. He was just as excited as I was that I’d crossed the line.

Can you picture yourself being a kind of Mr. Greenjeans in the lives of other believers? How rewarding it is to support and reassure others in the spiritual race, strengthening their faith, love, and endurance.

For the Apostle Paul, looking ahead, he hung his joy on the Lord’s return. And this joyful hope was bound up with others to whom he had shared the gospel and among whom he had laboured and witnessed God’s transforming grace. They will be his crown of boasting, not because he can claim credit for their salvation, but because God’s grace has been at work in their lives through the gospel ministry he was privileged to share.

In a manner of speaking, they will be his gold medal of victory to the glory of God: “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.” (1 Thess. 2:19-20).

What a finish line celebration! Can you hear Paul’s joyful boast? His greatest joy wasn’t in personal achievement, but in seeing what God was accomplishing in the lives of others through the gospel. He looked forward to the day when he would stand in the presence of the Lord, rejoicing in the presence of those believers he had encouraged, taught, and helped along the way.

Let’s not be content merely to run our own race. Let’s draw alongside others, cheering them on in the progress of faith and helping them endure hardships. Then, when Jesus returns, they will be our joy and crown of rejoicing, just as the Thessalonian believers were to Paul.

Who might need you to come alongside them this week? Whose faith could be strengthened by your encouragement, your prayers, or your patient investment in their spiritual growth? Who is struggling to keep going and needs someone to speak life-giving words of truth to help them fix their eyes on the finish line? And who are you longing to see standing in the presence of Jesus, sharing in the joy of that great day?

To God be the glory! Great things hath He done! And great will our rejoicing be through Jesus the Son. But purer, and higher, and greater will be our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see!

Bill