HONOUR THE LORD

The Bible repeatedly instructs us to honour. What does it mean to honour one another? The following are just a few examples of those we are to honour:

We are to honour our father and mother so we live long lives. Exodus 20:12 "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." This means to treat with respect, be courteous and obey.

We are to honour God. John 5:23 "That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him." Honour here is to give reverence and homage. Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

We are to honour one another. Romans 12:10 "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"

We are to honour our boss. 1 Timothy 6:1 "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed." Give your employer full respect.

Husbands are to honour their wives so their prayers are not hindered. 1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."

We are to purge ourselves of certain things to be vessels unto honour, meet for the Master's use. 2 Timothy 2:21 "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

Giving honour is basically showing respect and recognizing the value of whom we are honoring. God's desire is that we honour Him, in one another. You'll find that as you say, "Lord, I honor You in my wife." "Lord, I honour You in my husband." "Lord, I honour You in my father, my mother, my friend," and especially those who are not so loveable, that your attitude begins to change. As you yield to honouring God in that person(s), it will open the floodgates and you will find yourself honouring Him for more and more things in them. You see, God wants YOU and ME to line up with HIS WORD and HIS WAY. When divine order is working in you and me, He will take care of the rest of it.

I am not saying here that you say out loud to that person, "I honour God in you." The honour that we are speaking of here is what you are saying out of your heart, into your head. God knows what's in your heart. There are times when we do need to verbalize things, but it is wisdom to know when to keep quiet!

In some situations where God has told us to honour, that person may not even be saved. It doesn't matter; they are still a part of His creation. For instance, a child is commanded by the Word of God to honour their parents - whether the parent is saved or not. A husband must honour his wife, even when she is not saved. When we get a hold of the value and reality of what God means for us to honour, good things happen. Recently, the LORD impressed me that He wanted me to begin to honour Him in a particular individual. My whole focus is being transformed. If a negative thought hits me, I go on the offensive and say, "LORD, I honour you in this individual. I thank You for Your grace and Your goodness in them. I thank you that You created this person to be conformed to Your image and likeness. I honour Your Word that is in them. I honour Your spirit that is in them." As you begin to flow in honouring God in that person, God begins to flow in the relationship like never before. Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I WILL draw all men unto ME."

As we line up with the Word of God and do it God's way, we begin to really look at one another through His eyes and His love is made perfect! contributed by patti king

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