Honor
Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. John 8:54
Honor! You don’t see much of it these days. Sure, we have holidays to honor those who have served and fought for our country, and that is a good thing for sure. But mostly, we look for reasons to be proud and that is just not the same thing. Honor is something that we are definitely lacking in our world today. There are many scriptures in God’s Word teaching us to honor. Scriptures like: Honor your father and mother. Honor authority that God has established. In honor prefer one another. Honor widows who are really widows. Honor is something we give to others because they are God’s creation and valuable.
So what is honor anyway? Honor is a regard for others with great respect. In today’s reading, Jesus talks about honor. He said that honoring yourself is nothing, but when you live by and keep God’s words, your Father in heaven honors you. In this case, Jesus was talking about Himself, but it is the same for us today. When we live our lives by honoring and following God’s written word to us, we step into a place of honor with Him. When we love what He loves and hate what He hates, that is when you can step into the greatest position with Him. You come into agreement with His plan, His vision and His purpose! He will place you in a position of honor as you begin to live out His agenda and get into agreement with all that He wants to see you accomplish. You will be honoring and loving people and that is what God does and loves.
This may sound like a difficult thing to do, but practically speaking, honoring and following God’s written word can be as simple as hiding it in your heart so that you will not sin against Him. It is making time each day to look into His perfect word and making it a priority. It is putting every word that you learn and know into action in your life, and it is making His word final authority in all areas of your life. If God said it in His word, then you make every effort to make it a reality in your daily walk with Him.
By living your life in agreement with the word of God, you will not only be pleasing Him and walking in His honor, but you will also be living in the purpose for which you were created. That is when you will be living the best life that He has planned for you before you were even born.
Today I want to encourage you to be honorable. Honor others around you each day. It is not about them deserving it or being worthy to receive honor, it is about loving and respecting the people that God loves so dearly and gave His only Son to redeem. Then begin to honor God’s word in whatever you do. Make it the standard by which you live your life and hold it close in your heart so that you are able to walk out the plan that God has for your life. When you do, you will be pleasing God and you will be esteemed with His honor. You will grow closer to Him than you ever were before and make an impact in the world around you each day.
Today’s scripture reading: John 8:48-59
48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.
51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”
52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’
53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.
55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
The Daily Dose 