In the Feast of Tabernacles, booths were built out of palm branches and leafs to celebrate the fact that they lived in booths in the wilderness when the Lord brought them from slavery in Egypt. In a vision, John saw palm branches being used to worship in Revelation chapter seven. They cried in a loud voice, ?œSalvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the lamb??7:9-10).

Thorns symbolize the pain, and difficulties of life. They show us that success in anything will not happen without determination, hard work, and sacrifice. If we desire to wear the crown of success we must bear the pain first. We must deal with the stress, struggle with the pesky obstacles blocking our way, pick our self up when we fall. We have to take the bitter with the sweet.

The delicate beauty of roses is protected with thorns. Success is nestled among the frustrations, the sweat, the bruises, and the pain of life. Failures line the path to success like booby traps. Winning in life is not for the faint hearted, or the doubtful. It is for those who accept the thorns.

Would you wear a crown of thorns for Jesus? Would you speak out against evil? Would you be made fun of by those who think the Bible is a myth and that Christians are sissies? Our savior said, ?œIf anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father?™s glory with the holy angels.??(MK 8:38).