March 4

Honor God

Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained. — 1 Sam 2:30 BSB

Do I make the honor of God the central goal of my life and the guiding principle of my actions? If so, He will honor me. I may not receive honor from people for a time, but God will bestow honor on me in the most effective way. In the end, it will be proven that the surest path to honor is being willing to endure shame for the sake of a clear conscience.

Eli did not honor the Lord by properly ruling his household, and his sons did not honor the Lord by behaving in a manner worthy of their sacred office. Therefore, the Lord did not honor them; instead, He took the high priesthood away from their family and made young Samuel the ruler in the land instead of any of their descendants. If I want my family to be honored, I must honor the Lord in all things. God may allow the wicked to gain worldly honors, but the dignity that He bestows—glory, honor, and immortality—is reserved for those who, through holy obedience, seek to honor Him.

What can I do today to honor the Lord? I will promote His glory through my spoken testimony and my practical obedience. I will also honor Him with my resources and by offering Him some special service. Let me take some time to consider how I can honor Him, knowing that He will honor me.