April 14, 2023
Melissa Valerio
Revelation 4:10-11
“the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they exist, and were created and brought into being.‘”
The Imperial State Crown, made in 1937 for Queen Elizabeth II’s father, is made of gold and set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls and 4 rubies. It contains some of the most famous gems in the world, including the Black Prince’s Ruby, the 104-carat Stuart Sapphire and the 105.6-carat Cullinan II diamond. Its estimated worth is $3.4 to $5.7 billion dollars. Pretty pricey for a symbol of power and authority!
In this passage of Revelation 4, we see the 24 elders who have been given authority to rule in some capacity. And yet even they know when it’s appropriate to hand over authority and honor to the One True King. I wonder if sometimes we fall into the category of “I’m the king of my life”. Totally understandable. It’s hard to hand complete power and authority over to someone else. Especially someone you can’t see, hear, touch, or feel. Because what if you’re handing power over to someone who’s bad? And what if they make decisions for you that will harm you or your family? What if they take you down a path of difficulties and strain and stress? Good point. But the Word assures us that God is for us (Psalm 118:6), God has wonderful plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), God protects us (Isaiah 54:17), God provides for us (Luke 12:24), and God loves us so dearly (John 3:16). So, we could continue being ruler of our lives and miss out on all those blessings, OR we could hand over the crown that is worth far more than any royal crown. The crown of our hearts.
Once we fully trust in His rulership over our lives, we will start seeing our messes, mistakes, hardships, and challenges become stories of hope and restoration. He rules with love and goodness and is able to take ANY situation and turn it into a beautiful, glorious part of history. But it first starts with casting our crowns at His feet. Will you join me in doing so?
Prayer: Lord God, we’ve spent too many years ruling our own lives. Today, we cast our crowns at Your feet. You have ultimate authority in every area of our lives. You know what is best, what is needed, and what is beneficial for us. We trust You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. In the precious name of Your son, Jesus, Amen.
Action: Read Revelation 4. Picture what it may look like to see the elders throwing their crowns at the feet of Jesus, proclaiming His worthiness. Imagine that not only the elders, but angels and His people (us) will be worshiping Him in the same manner. What will it look like to worship in Heaven?