Cast Your Crowns
Today let's go on to the words of the pre-chorus in my song He is the Reason, which says this:
So come bow down and cast your crowns here at the stable
He's willing to deliver you, yes He is able
The Call to Worship
Bow down and cast your crowns. This is important, for me. Christmas must be a time of much worship, of much bowing and worshipping. Remember how the wise men, who saw the star in the east and came to Jerusalem, asked "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him"? (Matthew 2:2 NIV11)
We have come to worship Him! It reminds me of that song Come, Now Is the Time to Worship. Of course, some would say that worship is not a moment but a lifestyle. We should be worshipping in everything. This is true, but it's also true that all through the Bible, God's people would set aside time to spend in focused worship, doing nothing else but proclaiming God's greatness in song and prayer.
The Act of Surrender
Has it been a worshipful Christmas for you so far? Has there been much worship in your home and lifestyle? I'm not just talking about church – how about your own personal quiet time and prayer moments: have they been filled with worship?
I think moments of worship like this are important to give us opportunity to cast our crowns down. This picture comes from the book of Revelation actually. In chapter 4, the elders are worshipping the One on the throne, and they cast down their crowns before Him as they praise Him. This is a wonderful picture of humbling ourselves in worship! The elders were given crowns for their faithful Christian lives, but in the presence of the Holy One they cast their crowns down. In other words, they see Jesus for who He is, and they realize they are not worthy of the love and reward He has given them, so they cast it away to make a statement: that they rely on His grace, not their own goodness, to be in good standing with God.
Do you have some crowns to cast down in His presence this Christmas? Something you wear with pride: your success, your personality, your traits, your togetherness, your reputation?
The One in the manger is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Alpha and the Omega. Thinking of Him, friends, you can only bow and lay down anything you think gives you authority or power.
Casting your crowns at the throne is your way of saying "I trust in Jesus. I will not think too highly of myself. I will humble myself and put Him in the place of authority and power in my life."
Come to Him today, in humble worship, and lay down your pride, my friends. You'll find that there is more power in humble, selfless faith than in wearing crowns of self-assurance.
