But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
I Samuel 2:30
When we honor God, He honors us. But just the same, those who disrespect God will be treated as least in His Kingdom. It is fair to say that how we respond to God will determine how God responds to us.
God had to deal justly with Eli, the priest. Although he had served and honored God for many years, his sons were evil. Eli knew the standard of God’s righteousness and holiness but he chose to honor his sons and not God.
Eli revealed his heart when he failed to honor God before the people of Israel by the way he dealt with his sons wickedness. He allowed them to continue in sin.
God is not pleased when you praise Him on Sunday but not on Monday. It does not bring honor to God when you accept the standard of wickedness and sin from your family, friends and co-workers.
God expects us to honor Him completely and consistently. Just because we work or play around sinful people does not mean that we conform their ways. We must honor God by standing up for what is right and holy.
You may not be the popular person for excusing yourself when you around filthy conversation or jokes. You may even be mocked when you tell others to stop the nonsense. But that is what God expects from those who completely honor Him.
Pray
Lord, I will honor You with my whole heart. I will stand up against wickedness and stand strongly for the things that bring praise and honor to Your name. Father, forgive me for caving into the temptations of this world.
