Where is My Honor? Part 3
1 Samuel 2:30 “…for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
Our Father honors those who honor Him. We were designed to glorify God, yet many of us are not living up to our specifications. We put Him in the corner of our lives and recognize Him only when we need or want handouts. And we expect Him to rescue us quickly from our afflictions at our every beck and call. 1 Samuel 2:30 paints a different picture however. Although He is a God of love, He is more apt to move on our behalf based on our devotion towards Him. God is looking for those who truly love Him and are obedient to His perfect will. In order for us to give God our honor, we must give Him our hearts!
That is the only payment God accepts. Psalm 51:16-17 says, “For thou desires not sacrifice, else would I give it: thou delights not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” It is in true worship that Holy Spirit helps weaken our will (flesh) so that we can acquiesce to Father’s. True worship is costly because you have to really bow low to approach such a Holy God. To worship is to lay prostrate, fall down flat, crouch. In John 10:18 Jesus said, “no man takes my life, I lay it down.” After Christ’s model, we too must lay ourselves down so as to take up His life. True worshipers are sacrificial people.
We are to be alabaster jars (Luke 7:36-50), broken and poured out before Him in worship. Even when it is costly, He is worth everything because of who He is first, and what He has done for us. The old testament priests understood the cost, that entering the Holy of holies was a matter of life and death. David understood cost when he said in 2 Samuel 24:24 :…neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which does cost me nothing.” Mary left the 99 things Martha was preoccupied with just to spend time with Jesus (Luke 10:38-42).
May our lives be holy and acceptable unto the Lord. As we become an offering and a poured out life unto Him, may God fill us afresh with His fullness, glory, and honor in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.
