Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about honour – the quality of knowing and doing what is morally right and treating something or someone with great respect and high esteem.
The bible says to honour God, our Mother and Father; to honour widows, marriage, our leaders and those who serve. To honour one another and to give honour to whom honour is due (Exodus 20:12; Duet 5:16; Matt 15:4 1 Thess 15:13; Heb 13:4; Rom 12:10; 13:7)
Honour acts like a checkpoint and guidepost for our thoughts, behaviour and beliefs and is something my husband and I have tried to teach our children and those we lead. To honour their bodies, intellect, gifts, calling, purpose, relationships, other people and their relationship with God.
When we honour God, we respect who He is and what He says and hold His word and directives in high regard to us.
When we honour ourselves and others, we live very different because we choose to honour by caring for and not cheapening or dragging ourselves down through our actions or beliefs. We know we are valuable, and we consequently behave accordingly.
The consequences of not honouring is dishonour and will cause shame, disgrace, and discredit. When we do that, we cheapen and drag down what was once honourable and highly esteemed, and we miss God’s best for our lives.
“Without integrity and honour, having everything means nothing”. (R. Sharma)
Today I encourage you to treat yourself with honour and respect because you were created in the image of God and are highly valued by Him.
God put a lot of thought and planning into making and bestowing gifts and a purpose into your life. Don’t cheapen the honour He has placed upon you by believing anything less about yourself than who He says you are.
We also actually honour and glorify God the most when we rise to be the person we were created to be and refuse to allow ourselves to be discredited or dragged down by ours or other people’s wrong thinking, actions and behaviour towards us or in our conduct.
Choose the way of honour today!
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, give preference to one another in honour”.(Romans 12:10)
“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonourable, he will be a vessel for honourable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”(2 Tim 2:21)
Prayer: Lord, would you please forgive me where I have treated you and others with dishonour and disrespect or have allowed myself to be discredited and dragged down because I undervalued my worth. Please help me honour a central value in my life and honour you in all I am, say, and do. In Jesus name Amen.