Honor God?
In a recent conversation, I was asked “Do you think you are honoring God with your life/actions?”
For some reason this question gripped me and sent me down the proverbial rabbit hole, so I thought I would take you with me a bit. So come along as I consider things.
I think to answer such a question, one must first consider what “honor” means. After reviewing several sources and definitions I derived the following definition of what I would consider honor to be:
To provide a source of credit and distinction by showing high respect, esteem and glory that sums itself as an act of devotion or worship by living a life of honesty, fairness, and integrity in one’s beliefs and actions.
What a mouthful! If I considered that definition when asked the question, I must regretfully say that I dont. I think that at times I come close and at other times I miss the mark entirely.
One of the biggest areas I think by which I personally miss the mark is that I often make my life about me. I can get things backwards and think and act like everything should revolve around me, but the truth is, it’s not about me, or you. It’s about Jesus Christ. I act and think that my thoughts or beliefs make a difference in the truth concerning our Creator and maker. However the truth in the Bible is that it is all about Jesus no matter your beliefs or religion for that matter. There is no other God. Jesus is the only way to a relationship with the one-and-only God. No matter what a person believes in this life, the Bible says, “every knee will bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” I fail to honor God when I make it all about me.
Another area that I think I miss the mark is in obedience. I fail to obey Him – at times, I am just downright disobedient. There are many possible reasons or excuses that I will often throw out why I disobey God. I am not going to explore all the possibilities now—I’ll save that for a later post—but they all come down to obedience or disobedience no matter what the reason. In short, the truth is this, if we understand and truly know who God is and understand our relationship with Him and how much He loves us there is no good reason to disobey Him. We should do, without hesitation, whatever God tells us to do but that is hard sometimes since our flesh doesn’t like some of what God wants. Jesus said it like this: “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15).
So this morning I sit both humbled and somwhat ashamed in how I fail. I do love Him. I do want to obey. I do want to honor and bring Him honor. How about you?
Matthew 5;16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
John 5:22-23 “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.”
One final word on this today, and that is for all of you who may feel a little like me today. Don’t loose heart. Don’t give up. He loves you. He is still there for you. He came for you, knowing who you were already! John 3:17 says “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Rejoice! Get Up! Try again! Proverbs 24:16 ” . . . for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again . . .”
2 Corinthians 1:21-21: “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
