Honor, a forgotten art in Church
I think that honor is a forgotten art in much of our world today. Unfortunately this is even true in much of the church.
False love occurs when God’s perfect love is contaminated as it flows through an imperfect and selfish vessel. Any time we touch the work of God with selfish intentions we muddy up the pure and holy flow of God’s love. This is why John the Baptist, said, “He must increase and I must decrease.”
Human beings are incapable of delivering unpolluted waters. We long for significance and security, and do both good and evil things to maintain our own position. Of course, the enemy entices and encourages this!
Through the cross of Christ however, you and I can lay down this selfish nature by refusing ourselves the right to control. As we surrender to God’s Spirit, we rely on the Holy Spirit, through Christ, to supply entry into the Father’s unending source of unconditional love.
As we find our worth and security in Him, we lose our need to take from another person. We can honestly and sincerely prefer others knowing that our own protection, provision and promotion come from God.
When we honor one another, we honor Jesus we are saying, “Lord, I agree with You. You knew what you were doing, when you created this person. I value what you see in them and know that you see and know things far above my limited, human comprehension.
The opposite is also true. When we dishonor one another we imply that God’s plans are flawed and that our own judgment is wiser and higher than His. We judge people both, for what they actually do, and for what they have failed to be, in terms of our expectations. All along we fail to realize that the measure that we use against others is the one with which God uses to enforce our own judgment.
The criticism and accusation, that we rail, one against another, claim that Christ is not able to finish the good work that He began in this person’s life.
Isn’t it amazing (not to mention hypocritical) that we tend to judge ourselves by our intentions, yet measure others by their imperfections?
Thank God that through Christ there is a better way.
Let Him position you in the significance and security of His love. Allow yourself to decrease, and surrender control to Him. Choose, that by His grace, you will extend the mercy you have been shown to others.
Honor one another, and in doing so, honor Christ!
“Let love be without insincerity.
Despise what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;
Give preference to one another in honor” Romans 12:9-10.
~ Mary Lindow ©
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” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
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 Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others in all generations and careers or vocations to live and express excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She is a sought after keynote inspirational and humorous speaker and teacher throughout the United States internationally in Ministers conferences, International Spiritual leaders Conferences, and in National and International training seminars for various organizations. |
Thank you for encouraging us to love each other and surrender to ourselves to Christ.
A pastor recently preached on Song of Songs. He spoke of chapter 4 where The Lord is looking into the eyes of his lovely bride and says :You are beautiful, my darling, beautiful beyond words. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead. (Song of Songs 4:1 NLT)
Doves in the bible speak of the Holy Spirit and his love and gentleness. The Lord sees the beauty of his bride with the Holy Spirit in the windows of her very soul, which are her eyes. He sees gentleness in her eyes. His bride is the church! The pastor noted that hair represents maturity, and at that time goats mean prosperity. So not only does The Lord sees peace in the church he also sees she is mature and prosperous. This encourages me so much, so often I feel how short I am from pleasing God. But look at how he sees me in His body! Even after the shulamite woman hesitated to let her lover in, as stated in this verse:I slept, but my heart was awake, when I heard my lover knocking and calling: “Open to me, my treasure, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.” But I responded, “I have taken off my robe. Should I get dressed again? I have washed my feet. Should I get them soiled?” My lover tried to unlatch the door, and my heart thrilled within me. I jumped up to open the door for my love, and my hands dripped with perfume. My fingers dripped with lovely myrrh as I pulled back the bolt. I opened to my lover, but he was gone! My heart sank. I searched for him but could not find him anywhere. I called to him, but there was no reply. (Song of Songs 5:2-6 NLT)
Did her lover reject her? No for he repeated his declaration of love for his feelings had not changed . I give thanks for the Lord’s love. I thank you for encouraging us to love one another.