Give honor to those deserving of honor.

What a wonderful drive in this morning with the windows down and the brisk 65 degree breeze giving me an envigorating start. It is September 23, 2009 and I bid you a welcome to Wednesday, that day of the week where we look forward to gathering this evening with other like-minded believers for a time of prayer, Bible study, and fellowship. We look forward to this time each week because those of us who show up know that we need to hear from God and we need each other. Last week I shared about our Bro. Milton and his wife Glenda being honored at their local Church in Florida with a new foyer dedicated to them for their many years of faithful service. This week I listened to a sermon on the internet preached by their pastor and it was very appropriate in terms of calling our attention to those God would have us to honor. He spoke about the privilege of being able to put a plaque on the wall with Bro. Milton’s and Sister Glenda’s names on it. Not only because of their age. Not only because of the great illness they have persevered through. But mainly because of their consistent testimony of living, with God’s help, by the Book in their service to the Lord for these many years.

The sermon spoke about giving honor to our government leaders, our parents, our pastors, husbands towards wives, and wives towards husbands, and to those who faithfully serve, especially those of the household of faith. He then challenged all to consider who it is that they honor in their lives. He talked about how that people on TV, in the movies, or those who are great athletes have folks that follow their every move and show honor to them by their devotion. He talked about how people buy their music, faithfully follow a TV series, go to their movies, or regardless of rain, sleet, or snow, they attend their sporting events. When folks respond in this manner they are showing honor. He then asked if that type of honor was well placed. Many of these elevated people live lives that are wrecked by immorality, drugs, sexual perversion, and worse. However, people, even God’s people often show through their purchases, their allegiance, and their interest, more honor to the so called famous than they do to those who God has called us to honor.

The pastor went on to say that some of those we honor by our recognition and patronage actually live a lifestyle that God says is an abomination to Him. Many times we honor this type of individual while often we are not willing to give the proper honor to God that He deserves and then to those He has singled out for recognition. This sermon was a very sweet recollection of my thoughts about our dear Bro. Milton. On the other hand it was horribly convicting as I considered those we often place on a pedestal in our lives and in the way we follow after them, how we spend our time, and what we support with our financial resources. I hope we who are believers realize we are surrounded by a modern day cloud of witnesses who have given much into our lives. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing for us to begin to take stock of our value system? For the word honor means just that: Placing a value of worth. Worthy of our best, our first, and our all is our Great God, but He also would have us show honor to Him by valuing and showing honor to those who have served Him faithfully and in so doing they have contributed to our lives as well. This is something for us to think about, pray about, and seek God's direction about. Amen. .....More later.