Together # 28
A Together that Strengthens
A Together that Strengthens
Honor One Another
copyright by Dick Wulf, 2018
Celebrate one another's accomplishments. Rejoice that a victory for God has been achieved, recognizing His intimate involvement in attaining it.
Rom 12:10; Rom 12:15; 1 Cor 12:26; 1 Cor 16:18
Honoring one another is very important for the strength of the church. We should constantly be rejoicing with one another for achievements and victories, especially spiritual triumphs.
Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves [or Outdo one another in showing honor; or Be eager to show honor to one another].
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Rom 12:10 (Expanded Bible)
Accomplishments should be honored because they glorify God. Honoring, rejoicing and celebrating can all fulfill this command of Scripture to honor one another. Complimenting can also be added to this list.
Honoring one another is ultimately all about honoring God. It honors God now as the source of all that is good and the One who produces good works in Christians. And, it is preparation for honoring God throughout all eternity.
Honoring one another is one more Together that has not been taken seriously enough. As important as such birthday and sports celebrations are, there are far more important achievements over which we need to rejoice. Many things usually overlooked should be honored. What about honoring the team that responds to defeat in a sportsmanlike manner? It is noteworthy for a person to finish well in a track meet, but what about the person who forgives a hurtful mother-in-law who doesn’t even care about being forgiven?
Think how important honoring through rejoicing, celebrating and complimenting are to getting people started in life. When an infant takes first steps, what do we do? Right! We make a big deal out of it. That’s what brings forth more steps.
A little later in life, the child of five plays soccer, running around in a clump of other five-year-olds accomplishing very little. And parents scream over and over again, “Good job!” That honoring effort can eventually produce actual soccer playing.
But, that same five-year-old can also be taught to share toys because God shares so many good things of His with us. Again, the “Good job sharing like God shares with us!” needs to be heard. Think of what would happen if a child was honored occasionally for doing something good with conscious awareness of doing it for someone else and for God.
When our 40-something kids were young, we had on our dinner table a homemade “Good Egg Award”, just a plastic egg glued to a small piece of wood. In my time, a “good egg” was a good person. Every evening at dinnertime, the recipient of the Good Egg Award from the night before awarded it to another family member for doing something helpful for the family in the last 24 hours. What do you think this honoring through recognition and appreciation accomplished?
The Togethers of Scripture are things God asks of Christians when they get together, and there is room for much growth in all 65 of them. We help one another do these things for God’s glory. And, when one of them is particularly tough for another Christian, getting past the barrier and making it a regular part of life should be recognized through some kind of honoring.
Occasionally we will go to lunch with a group of friends and toast with our glasses someone’s promotion at work or engagement to be married. That happens once in a blue moon. But, couldn’t it happen rather regularly within Christian “inner circles” where the struggles of the Christian life see many victories? Like raising glasses and toasting someone who finally was able to present the gospel to a resistant listener? Others in the group would want glasses raised for their own spiritual victories, and that would stimulate greater obedience and love for God.
Honoring one another can be so much more personal in the close-knit relationships of Christian friendships, families and marriages. These relationships allow accurate feedback about performance, accomplishments and character. Giving such honor should always be done when exemplary behavior or commitment comes to our attention. It does not need to take a great amount of time. One small, on-target statement honoring a person can make an impact for a whole lifetime. Multiple affirmations from those in a Christian’s inner circle are even better.
So what gets in the way of honoring others often? Right! The thing that is so often standing in the way of all righteousness – pride. Pride can keep us from acknowledging the accomplishments of others because we want to be better than them. Perhaps we can’t bear to see someone do something we cannot yet do.
We can also worry that to compliment another will make that person sinfully proud. Might they be proud anyway, and complimenting them just bring it out in full view so that they can be helped? But, let’s keep in mind that most proud people are actually showing their lack of confidence and self-esteem. They unconsciously seek excessive affirmation to overcome self-doubt or past criticism. So, in fact, these proud-appearing people are in great need of honest feedback to actually feel good about themselves inside. They actually need honoring more than the rest of us.
Every godly accomplishment should be honored and celebrated in one way or another. Such recognition encourages more accomplishments for God’s glory. Honored behavior promotes more honorable behavior. Christians should congratulate their friends, family members and spouses often for faithfulness, obedience, and service for God done in His way.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
Honoring one another is ultimately all about honoring God. It honors God now as the source of all that is good and the One who produces good works in Christians. And, it is preparation for honoring God throughout all eternity.
Honoring one another is one more Together that has not been taken seriously enough. As important as such birthday and sports celebrations are, there are far more important achievements over which we need to rejoice. Many things usually overlooked should be honored. What about honoring the team that responds to defeat in a sportsmanlike manner? It is noteworthy for a person to finish well in a track meet, but what about the person who forgives a hurtful mother-in-law who doesn’t even care about being forgiven?
Think how important honoring through rejoicing, celebrating and complimenting are to getting people started in life. When an infant takes first steps, what do we do? Right! We make a big deal out of it. That’s what brings forth more steps.
A little later in life, the child of five plays soccer, running around in a clump of other five-year-olds accomplishing very little. And parents scream over and over again, “Good job!” That honoring effort can eventually produce actual soccer playing.
But, that same five-year-old can also be taught to share toys because God shares so many good things of His with us. Again, the “Good job sharing like God shares with us!” needs to be heard. Think of what would happen if a child was honored occasionally for doing something good with conscious awareness of doing it for someone else and for God.
When our 40-something kids were young, we had on our dinner table a homemade “Good Egg Award”, just a plastic egg glued to a small piece of wood. In my time, a “good egg” was a good person. Every evening at dinnertime, the recipient of the Good Egg Award from the night before awarded it to another family member for doing something helpful for the family in the last 24 hours. What do you think this honoring through recognition and appreciation accomplished?
The Togethers of Scripture are things God asks of Christians when they get together, and there is room for much growth in all 65 of them. We help one another do these things for God’s glory. And, when one of them is particularly tough for another Christian, getting past the barrier and making it a regular part of life should be recognized through some kind of honoring.
Occasionally we will go to lunch with a group of friends and toast with our glasses someone’s promotion at work or engagement to be married. That happens once in a blue moon. But, couldn’t it happen rather regularly within Christian “inner circles” where the struggles of the Christian life see many victories? Like raising glasses and toasting someone who finally was able to present the gospel to a resistant listener? Others in the group would want glasses raised for their own spiritual victories, and that would stimulate greater obedience and love for God.
Honoring one another can be so much more personal in the close-knit relationships of Christian friendships, families and marriages. These relationships allow accurate feedback about performance, accomplishments and character. Giving such honor should always be done when exemplary behavior or commitment comes to our attention. It does not need to take a great amount of time. One small, on-target statement honoring a person can make an impact for a whole lifetime. Multiple affirmations from those in a Christian’s inner circle are even better.
So what gets in the way of honoring others often? Right! The thing that is so often standing in the way of all righteousness – pride. Pride can keep us from acknowledging the accomplishments of others because we want to be better than them. Perhaps we can’t bear to see someone do something we cannot yet do.
We can also worry that to compliment another will make that person sinfully proud. Might they be proud anyway, and complimenting them just bring it out in full view so that they can be helped? But, let’s keep in mind that most proud people are actually showing their lack of confidence and self-esteem. They unconsciously seek excessive affirmation to overcome self-doubt or past criticism. So, in fact, these proud-appearing people are in great need of honest feedback to actually feel good about themselves inside. They actually need honoring more than the rest of us.
Every godly accomplishment should be honored and celebrated in one way or another. Such recognition encourages more accomplishments for God’s glory. Honored behavior promotes more honorable behavior. Christians should congratulate their friends, family members and spouses often for faithfulness, obedience, and service for God done in His way.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
Jason and Cynthia had a rough start to their marriage. They were in competition with each other and passed up few opportunities to be critical. They were headed for divorce, but they had children and delayed what they considered the inevitable.
Then Jesus came into their lives as a result of a church outreach in their neighborhood. Soon thereafter, in a Bible study group designed to help husbands and wives live the way God wanted them to, they learned that Jesus did not say things to hurt. Yes, eventually He was harsh to the religious police of his day, but that was the last resort. Instead, the Bible study pointed out that Jesus honored his heavenly Father and instructed compliments when others did what they were supposed to. Jason and Cynthia tried out complimenting each other, affirming strengths, and rejoicing for the accomplishments of the other. As they began to understand the marital relationship to be one of helping each other, competition between them grew to seem like utter nonsense. Soon, instead of being each other’s enemy, they became each other’s best friend. Their marriage tasted the transforming change of being like Jesus. |
Jesus always honored his Father. While we can never be that perfect, we can remember to give God the credit for whenever we pay attention and “get it right”.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined
according to the plan of him who works out everything
in conformity with the purpose of his will,
in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ,
might be for the praise of his glory.
Eph 1:11-12
according to the plan of him who works out everything
in conformity with the purpose of his will,
in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ,
might be for the praise of his glory.
Eph 1:11-12
We need to remember that it is God who works in us for his purposes and pleasure. If we do that, we will honor the Father the way that Jesus does and be more like our Savior.
All of us are tempted at times to think, “I can sin this way. It is not the “unforgivable sin”. Or, “I can always repent later.” Sure, we can “get away with it” to some extent. But, remember that when we choose to cash in our “get away with evil card” and do whatever unrighteous thing we want and get forgiven, we won’t escape the consequences and holy deprivations of such inferior love for God. Furthermore, it takes us away from our eternal purpose to become more and more like Jesus, more mature in Him.
Jesus never once dishonored God – because He loved God too much to sin! As much as we can, we need to keep our lives all about God and honoring Him. Then we can use our committed love for Him to keep ourselves from going astray and being disrespectful to Him. It is great worship to always be concerned about guarding God’s honor. One way we do that is by honoring one another for righteousness.
Jesus taught us about honoring others in his parables.
All of us are tempted at times to think, “I can sin this way. It is not the “unforgivable sin”. Or, “I can always repent later.” Sure, we can “get away with it” to some extent. But, remember that when we choose to cash in our “get away with evil card” and do whatever unrighteous thing we want and get forgiven, we won’t escape the consequences and holy deprivations of such inferior love for God. Furthermore, it takes us away from our eternal purpose to become more and more like Jesus, more mature in Him.
Jesus never once dishonored God – because He loved God too much to sin! As much as we can, we need to keep our lives all about God and honoring Him. Then we can use our committed love for Him to keep ourselves from going astray and being disrespectful to Him. It is great worship to always be concerned about guarding God’s honor. One way we do that is by honoring one another for righteousness.
Jesus taught us about honoring others in his parables.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things;
I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Matt 25:21
You have been faithful with a few things;
I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Matt 25:21
Honoring in this parable was for doing what was asked by the master. When we acknowledge and honor our Christian friends, family members and spouses for difficult choices they have made out of obedience to the Lord’s requests as recorded in the Bible, we are being like Jesus.
Philip found Nathanael and told him,
“We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law,
and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him,
“Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree
before Philip called you.”
Then Nathanael declared,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree.
You will see greater things than that.” He then added,
“Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God
ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
John 1:45-50
“We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law,
and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him,
“Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree
before Philip called you.”
Then Nathanael declared,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree.
You will see greater things than that.” He then added,
“Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God
ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
John 1:45-50
Here Jesus complimented Nathanael for honesty that might have been considered in our day “politically incorrect”. Can we, like Jesus, compliment those Christians close to us when they are brutally honest with us? If we can, we will grow to be a little more like Jesus who was not offended by Nathanael’s honesty.
It seems also that Jesus added something special to magnify the affirmation of Nathanael. He promised a vision of heaven. Perhaps when someone is exceptionally honest, we can rejoice about the honesty with a genuine smile, a culinary treat, or something else that would feel special.
Let’s be like Jesus and rejoice at the good accomplishments of our Christian brothers and sisters. And, while giving them honor, let’s not leave out the honor due God who empowered them for the victory.
Opportunity to Worship God
It seems also that Jesus added something special to magnify the affirmation of Nathanael. He promised a vision of heaven. Perhaps when someone is exceptionally honest, we can rejoice about the honesty with a genuine smile, a culinary treat, or something else that would feel special.
Let’s be like Jesus and rejoice at the good accomplishments of our Christian brothers and sisters. And, while giving them honor, let’s not leave out the honor due God who empowered them for the victory.
Opportunity to Worship God
Shauna and her kids live in a housing project in one of America’s large cities. They live on the edge financially, doing the best they can with what Shauna can make cleaning hotel rooms. When fourth-grade Keenan announced at the dinner table that his best friend Denzel got off probation and will be going on to fifth grade, everyone was very happy. They all knew how hard school was for Denzel.
Then, second-grader Keesha announced that they should throw a party for Denzel to celebrate. Keenan kidded his little sister, “You’re always looking for a reason to have a party!” Everyone laughed. And then mother Shauna clapped her hands loudly and yelled out, “Yes! Yes, that’s what we’re going to do!” Shauna told her four children that having a party to honor Denzel’s achievement was what Jesus wanted them to do. But, 14-year-old Gerard, who considered himself the man of the house, spoke up, “Where we gonna get the money for that!” It wasn’t a question, but a reality. This time Keenan acted like the man of the house and said, “Let’s pray about it and ask God where we gonna get the money.” Shauna agreed, and that is what the family did. The next Sunday, Shauna stood up in her church and announced what her family wanted to do for Keenan’s friend who did not go to church but accepted the Lord in last summer’s Vacation Bible School. Pastor Terrell decided right then to ask the deacons to pass the offering baskets one more time, asking people to put just a little in so that Shauna and her family could follow the instruction of the Lord. $32.86 was raised. And you would be surprised what Shauna and her kids could do with that money. Keenan’s family, much poorer than they and living in the same housing project, was invited, along with a couple of Keenan and Denzel’s’ 4th-grade friends. It was a grand celebration honoring Denzel for trying harder at school for the first time in his life. God in heaven was honored. He knew that even though Shauna did not realize it, she and her kids had honored what He had done in Denzel’s life. But, in their dinner prayer they did acknowledge that God had helped them honor Denzel. |
We honor and worship God in two ways when we honor one another. (1) We act like God who honors His Son and compliments his people. (2) When we honor another Christian, we also honor God who made that person’s accomplishment happen.
To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God,
be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.
1 Tim 1:17
be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.
1 Tim 1:17
Acting Like God Who Honors His Son and His People
God the Father honored the Son as recorded in Matthew 3:17:
God the Father honored the Son as recorded in Matthew 3:17:
And a voice from heaven said,
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
We can also see that God gives honor to his people in Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and Luke 19 where the Master says, “Well done” and rewards with greater responsibility and authority. That simple “well done good and faithful servant” is what we long to hear now and in heaven. We want God to honor us in that way.
Whenever we honor someone with our “well done” compliment, it reflects God’s actions and is worship. Each of us can find where in our relationships with others we have occasional opportunities to do similarly. In our close Christian friendships, we will be able to notice exemplary responsible behavior and say, “Well done!” As parents, we will often say, “Well done” and then go on to brag on our kids. As husband or wife, we can be the recipient of loving behavior that does not come naturally and say, “Thank you and well done”. Even kids can say to their parents, “Well done” when a parent participates in some kid activity that is not comfortable. Everyone has opportunities to worship God by giving out the very same kind of “well done” honoring as He awards.
Honoring God by Honoring Another Christian in Whom God Worked
We also worship God whenever we recognize God’s crucial part in the accomplishment of the person we are honoring. When one of us accomplishes anything good, God is behind it, in front of it, and all around it. Giving God the credit for His part in helping another Christian is ascribing worth to Him and is important worship.
Whenever we honor someone with our “well done” compliment, it reflects God’s actions and is worship. Each of us can find where in our relationships with others we have occasional opportunities to do similarly. In our close Christian friendships, we will be able to notice exemplary responsible behavior and say, “Well done!” As parents, we will often say, “Well done” and then go on to brag on our kids. As husband or wife, we can be the recipient of loving behavior that does not come naturally and say, “Thank you and well done”. Even kids can say to their parents, “Well done” when a parent participates in some kid activity that is not comfortable. Everyone has opportunities to worship God by giving out the very same kind of “well done” honoring as He awards.
Honoring God by Honoring Another Christian in Whom God Worked
We also worship God whenever we recognize God’s crucial part in the accomplishment of the person we are honoring. When one of us accomplishes anything good, God is behind it, in front of it, and all around it. Giving God the credit for His part in helping another Christian is ascribing worth to Him and is important worship.
“I am the vine; you are the branches.
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
As long as we remember when we honor another Christian that God’s hand is in the accomplishment, we honor God, whether we say it aloud or not. Apart from God, any good thing we do is just like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). It is God who makes it good, but that does not mean we should not give credit to the person. After all, the person had to let God work in him or her. It is possible to resist and quench the Holy Spirit, and the person did not do that.
Just consider how the fruit of the Spirit will have infused what our Christian friend, family member or spouse did for which we are celebrating. It probably required love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – all of them at some point in the accomplishment. So, God the Holy Spirit is being honored when we honor one another.
Let’s rejoice all the time over one another’s significant accomplishments. In doing so, we honor God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit who assigned, guided, and empowered the success.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Just consider how the fruit of the Spirit will have infused what our Christian friend, family member or spouse did for which we are celebrating. It probably required love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – all of them at some point in the accomplishment. So, God the Holy Spirit is being honored when we honor one another.
Let’s rejoice all the time over one another’s significant accomplishments. In doing so, we honor God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit who assigned, guided, and empowered the success.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
God looked down on Morgan’s Plumbing Supply and saw all the back-biting and hurtful relationships, as well as runaway profanity in the warehouse. The Lord had four of his own working there, and they were trapped in the same kind of behavior, only a little less profane. So, God decided to do something to turn his people around. Matt, Brian, Jamie and Earl were about to be convicted by the Holy Spirit.
Matt’s wife refused to go to the company picnic because she did not like how the men he worked with were cruel in their “playful” joking. Brian was booted from coaching his son’s baseball team for angry outbursts at games. Jamie had a nervous breakdown from the ill treatment he received at work. And Earl, well, he just got disgusted with himself somehow. God the Father liked this work of the Holy Spirit. Satan, on the other hand, was quite proud of the nasty destructiveness at Morgan’s Plumbing. He was really satisfied that those belonging to his rival, God, were not much better. But, the devil became a little worried when Earl became unhappy with his poor Christian behavior. These four men knew that they were all Christians, but they had not been friends. However, after being worked over by the Spirit, they began to gravitate toward one another from time to time. They shared their troubles, and it was Earl who mentioned that all of them except Jamie were masters of their own demise. To make a long story short, the four Christians began spending more time together, first going on fishing trips, but eventually talking about their faith and the Bible. In time they realized the scheme of Satan to make them hurtful to each other as well as to other non-believers at work. To essentially spit in the devil’s face, they decided to honor one another with compliments, affirmations and celebrations. To do this, they relied on God and let the Holy Spirit call the shots on how they behaved. The evil one did not like what was happening, but what could he do? God was taking charge. Not only were the four workers honoring one another in obedience to the Bible, but they were honoring God by knowing all along that the Lord was working in them to accomplish His way of living. |
Satan’s whole desire is to be served, worshiped and honored. Therefore, the more we recognize and honor spiritual obedience and things done that reflect God and his love, the more we keep the evil one from achieving his devilish schemes.
Satan wants us to feel incapable without his help of lying, deceiving and other evil sources of power. On the other hand, God wants us to feel incapable without His help and love. Note that neither our enemy nor our Lord want us to feel capable in and of ourselves.
We do not battle Satan by becoming righteously self-sufficient. Instead, we honor God by being dependent upon Him. Of course, the devil would want us to be dependent upon himself by being fearful, covetous, and a host of other things we are not to be. But, depending on God and His love, we both honor God and dishonor Satan. Good for us, when we do so!
When we honor one another in a way that acknowledges God’s Hand in whatever is being celebrated, we reward one another for depending upon God to do His work in us. Such recognition defeats the devil as well as encourages further growth in Christ as well as service for His work in this hurting world.
But, not giving God the credit for the accomplishments of those in our Christian inner circles serves the devil’s purpose of robbing God of the honor that He deserves. This is another reason to always be aware of each other’s triumphs as made possible by the Lord.
Let’s enjoy giving God the credit and honor by celebrating and rejoicing spiritual growth and righteous acts accomplished by one another through faithfulness. Oh, and by the way, let’s also enjoy defeating the devil.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Satan wants us to feel incapable without his help of lying, deceiving and other evil sources of power. On the other hand, God wants us to feel incapable without His help and love. Note that neither our enemy nor our Lord want us to feel capable in and of ourselves.
We do not battle Satan by becoming righteously self-sufficient. Instead, we honor God by being dependent upon Him. Of course, the devil would want us to be dependent upon himself by being fearful, covetous, and a host of other things we are not to be. But, depending on God and His love, we both honor God and dishonor Satan. Good for us, when we do so!
When we honor one another in a way that acknowledges God’s Hand in whatever is being celebrated, we reward one another for depending upon God to do His work in us. Such recognition defeats the devil as well as encourages further growth in Christ as well as service for His work in this hurting world.
But, not giving God the credit for the accomplishments of those in our Christian inner circles serves the devil’s purpose of robbing God of the honor that He deserves. This is another reason to always be aware of each other’s triumphs as made possible by the Lord.
Let’s enjoy giving God the credit and honor by celebrating and rejoicing spiritual growth and righteous acts accomplished by one another through faithfulness. Oh, and by the way, let’s also enjoy defeating the devil.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Unfortunately, few Christians focus on the kingdom that will be their home for eternity. These 70-plus years seem to be all that they think of.
Then there are those Christians who do think about heaven, but most about how it will benefit them. They have been brought to belief with the promise of eternal life that will make it very good for them forever. At least they are thinking about heaven. But, then there are a few, like Alice and Elaine, who realize they are going to heaven primarily for God, to worship and honor Him. They know that they will be having the time of their lives with all of the wonderful things in heaven, but they envision even more thrill in glorifying God for all eternity. These two friends often take walks and talk about how wonderful it will be to honor God in his heaven. To practice for that forever opportunity, the two of them pick other Christians they know to honor by compliments, affirmations, and sometimes even celebrations. Of course, they do this for one another regularly. |
We will be in heaven to honor God. There will be nothing we will want to do in heaven more than worship and honor God.
Heaven will constantly overwhelm us with gratitude.
Heaven will constantly overwhelm us with gratitude.
However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived” – the things
God has prepared for those who love him – these are
the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
1 Cor 2:9-10
“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived” – the things
God has prepared for those who love him – these are
the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
1 Cor 2:9-10
If we let it happen, the Holy Spirit will give us an awareness that what awaits us is beyond wonderful description. And, just think! When we first enter the pearly gates of heaven, we will be overwhelmed with wonder. And, a thousand years into heaven, we will still be overtaken by God’s creativity and provision.
And, we will feel His love. Clearer than ever before, we will know how much He loves us. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross will jump from 3-dimensional to all-dimensional, and we will comprehend God’s love for us magnified a thousand times.
And, we will feel His love. Clearer than ever before, we will know how much He loves us. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross will jump from 3-dimensional to all-dimensional, and we will comprehend God’s love for us magnified a thousand times.
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;
then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part;
then I shall know fully,
even as I am fully known.
1 Cor 13:12
then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part;
then I shall know fully,
even as I am fully known.
1 Cor 13:12
But, presently, even though “but through a glass darkly”, we still realize that God loves us.
This is love: not that we loved God,
but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:10
but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:10
Even before that heaven-enhanced perception of God’s love, we should be completely grateful. We should want to love Him back with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). After all that He has done for us in having his own dear Son die in our place, we should want nothing more than to honor him.
Honoring God out of love for what He did for us in Christ should be the motivation for all obedience. Sure, it benefits us to live the way God asks. But, we should live for God, not for His benefits. The benefits will be there in even greater presence if we do not obey to get them, but solely to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.
And, so, learning to honor God is all important. It is one of the things we can do that holds little present benefit for us. You see, when we honor another Christian, we get nothing back for ourselves, or should not. The honor should be 100% focused on the other person and on God who empowered that person’s accomplishment.
We should especially learn to honor, rejoice and celebrate spiritual accomplishments in others that we have not yet gained. More than not getting something back for ourselves, we may even have to swallow pride to do the honoring. Absence of pride in heaven is what will make honoring God possible. This is fantastic growth, for the purest honor we can give God is when we realize how greatly superior He is to our own puny righteousness.
We will be preparing for heaven if we learn to honor one another now and include full recognition of God’s part in one another’s victories. Then, when we enter heaven, we will be primed to honor God at a very high level.
Let’s help one another grow in the ability to honor one another and God. Let’s not pass up too many chances to compliment and rejoice and honor one another for the things God is doing in us.
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
Honoring God out of love for what He did for us in Christ should be the motivation for all obedience. Sure, it benefits us to live the way God asks. But, we should live for God, not for His benefits. The benefits will be there in even greater presence if we do not obey to get them, but solely to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.
And, so, learning to honor God is all important. It is one of the things we can do that holds little present benefit for us. You see, when we honor another Christian, we get nothing back for ourselves, or should not. The honor should be 100% focused on the other person and on God who empowered that person’s accomplishment.
We should especially learn to honor, rejoice and celebrate spiritual accomplishments in others that we have not yet gained. More than not getting something back for ourselves, we may even have to swallow pride to do the honoring. Absence of pride in heaven is what will make honoring God possible. This is fantastic growth, for the purest honor we can give God is when we realize how greatly superior He is to our own puny righteousness.
We will be preparing for heaven if we learn to honor one another now and include full recognition of God’s part in one another’s victories. Then, when we enter heaven, we will be primed to honor God at a very high level.
Let’s help one another grow in the ability to honor one another and God. Let’s not pass up too many chances to compliment and rejoice and honor one another for the things God is doing in us.
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
In heaven Shelby sees God’s involvement in everything that happens more clearly than most. When she sees a flower blossom, she sees God peeling open the bloom gently with great care. Everything is more thrilling because she perceives the hand of God in all things. Every day is fascinating, every event a working of God, not past tense but right now as it is happening.
This heightened perception began before she entered heaven. She and her friends helped one another see that everything good that happened for them and others had the stamp of God on it. They gave God credit for being the cause of everything wonderful. They honored God as life unfolded. |
Everyone will honor God in heaven. They will likely begin at the skill level of honoring that they achieved before death.
Let’s look at three special occasions that are designed to honor God – communion, Christmas and Easter.
Communion is a regular time to honor Jesus by remembering Him, as he requested. Communion should accomplish what both Christmas and Easter do, but on a more frequent basis. Communion has its roots in the Bible. Christmas and Easter do not, but they can have a wonderful purpose in honoring God.
If and when communion becomes a religious ritual without significant remembrance, it is robbed of its God-honoring purpose. It is meant to keep alive the primacy of Jesus’ love for us, but it can become something Christians “just do”. The person entering heaven who has cherished communion so much as to force out other distractions from remembering Jesus during communion will enter heaven much more able to remember God and honor Him. Heaven will have wonderful distractions, so this skill of prioritizing God will be needed. It will help us multi-task, yet put God before His creativity and provision. The person who never quite “got” what communion was all about will have less ability to start right off concentrating on God once through heaven’s portals.
Christmas is a time to honor God taking on human flesh and coming to earth in the Incarnation. Don’t you think that those whose focus during the Christmas Season is clearly on Jesus’ birth will know better how to honor God in heaven? What about the person who treats Jesus’ birth as secondary to all of the other wonderful things about Christmas rather than the colorful lights and gifts as pointing to the Incarnation? If we can throughly enjoy Christmas lights because they draw our minds to the greater beauty of God’s love that moved Him to come down to us in human form, then we will be able to see everything in heaven as a reminder of God.
Easter should take us to the cross where our redemption was purchased. Because there is only the distraction of bunnies producing colorful eggs, many of us have an easier time of honoring God at Easter. However, Satan has a way of making Easter egg hunts and Easter dinners the thing people most look forward to, diminishing the awareness of Christ’s substitutionary death. The Christian who at Easter dinner with non-believing relatives can still focus the back of his or her mind on rejoicing the cross, will develop a keen consciousness of God. In heaven, this ability will produce a greater outflowing of honor given to God.
Everyone will honor God in heaven. Let’s honor one another here, now, remembering to honor both the other Christian and God who created that other person a new creature in Christ. In this way, let’s prepare to hit the golden streets of heaven running with refined ability to honor and appreciate God.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
Let’s look at three special occasions that are designed to honor God – communion, Christmas and Easter.
Communion is a regular time to honor Jesus by remembering Him, as he requested. Communion should accomplish what both Christmas and Easter do, but on a more frequent basis. Communion has its roots in the Bible. Christmas and Easter do not, but they can have a wonderful purpose in honoring God.
If and when communion becomes a religious ritual without significant remembrance, it is robbed of its God-honoring purpose. It is meant to keep alive the primacy of Jesus’ love for us, but it can become something Christians “just do”. The person entering heaven who has cherished communion so much as to force out other distractions from remembering Jesus during communion will enter heaven much more able to remember God and honor Him. Heaven will have wonderful distractions, so this skill of prioritizing God will be needed. It will help us multi-task, yet put God before His creativity and provision. The person who never quite “got” what communion was all about will have less ability to start right off concentrating on God once through heaven’s portals.
Christmas is a time to honor God taking on human flesh and coming to earth in the Incarnation. Don’t you think that those whose focus during the Christmas Season is clearly on Jesus’ birth will know better how to honor God in heaven? What about the person who treats Jesus’ birth as secondary to all of the other wonderful things about Christmas rather than the colorful lights and gifts as pointing to the Incarnation? If we can throughly enjoy Christmas lights because they draw our minds to the greater beauty of God’s love that moved Him to come down to us in human form, then we will be able to see everything in heaven as a reminder of God.
Easter should take us to the cross where our redemption was purchased. Because there is only the distraction of bunnies producing colorful eggs, many of us have an easier time of honoring God at Easter. However, Satan has a way of making Easter egg hunts and Easter dinners the thing people most look forward to, diminishing the awareness of Christ’s substitutionary death. The Christian who at Easter dinner with non-believing relatives can still focus the back of his or her mind on rejoicing the cross, will develop a keen consciousness of God. In heaven, this ability will produce a greater outflowing of honor given to God.
Everyone will honor God in heaven. Let’s honor one another here, now, remembering to honor both the other Christian and God who created that other person a new creature in Christ. In this way, let’s prepare to hit the golden streets of heaven running with refined ability to honor and appreciate God.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
In heaven Debi senses God’s smile. Although she is not certain if or when she will actually see God the Father’s face, she knows when he is smiling at her. Although it is hard to explain, it is like in the previous life before death when the sun came out after a cloudy day and warmed her bare skin.
This time Debi knows that God is smiling because she has just honored him by rejoicing over his causing the blooming of the roses in her garden in heaven. |
Honoring of God occurs continually in heaven by angels – and we will join them.
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks
to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne
and worship him who lives for ever and ever.
They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
Rev 4:9-11
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth
and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Rev 5:13-14
to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne
and worship him who lives for ever and ever.
They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
Rev 4:9-11
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth
and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Rev 5:13-14
Is it possible that our awareness and enjoyment of this worship and honoring of God in heaven will be dependent upon how we have let the Holy Spirit teach us how to honor now, before death? I am sure that all of us will be participating – the above scripture makes us sure of that. But, just as we can sit in a church service either barely aware or fully aware of what the pastor is preaching, can we participate in honoring God in heaven half-heartedly even though that half-heart will be 100% pure, and, therefore, not sin.
Let’s not gamble with that. It can do no harm to practice honoring God right here, right now in hopes that it will improve what we can give to God in heaven.
Praise & Prayer Regarding this Together
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. I honor You, I cherish You, I hold Your very Being in the highest regard.
Help me, O Holy Father God, to honor other Christians in order to honor You for what you have accomplished in their lives. I want to never be held back in my compliments because of envy or low opinion of myself. Give me help through the Holy Spirit to honor others and You as well as to encourage such honoring by those Christians closest to me.
And, help me to let others recognize the work You have done in me by accepting honor when it is given to me. Let me appreciate their compliments and affirmations, but always combined with giving You the greater credit.
I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to freely honor other Christians for what they do that You ask them to do. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory by building up Your people through the power unleashed by honoring them.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus who lived to honor You, Father God. We want and need the Holy Spirit’s help to extend our honoring to our Lord Jesus, Your Anointed One. And, as Jesus complimented and honored others, let us have many opportunities to honor those in our Christian Inner Circles.
Help us to worship You more by keeping our lives all about You and honoring You. And, motivate us to honor You by honoring other Christians for their accomplishments, recognizing that which we honor other believers were done in Your grace, wisdom, and power.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by recognizing and honoring spiritual obedience and things done by Christians that reflect You and Your love. Satan wants to be honored instead of You, so may we realize that we are denying him honor when we honor other believers for serving You and accomplishing one thing or another.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by honoring other Christians often. Make us ready to be constantly honoring You by honoring others continually forever once we enter the pearly gates.
Let’s not gamble with that. It can do no harm to practice honoring God right here, right now in hopes that it will improve what we can give to God in heaven.
Praise & Prayer Regarding this Together
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. I honor You, I cherish You, I hold Your very Being in the highest regard.
Help me, O Holy Father God, to honor other Christians in order to honor You for what you have accomplished in their lives. I want to never be held back in my compliments because of envy or low opinion of myself. Give me help through the Holy Spirit to honor others and You as well as to encourage such honoring by those Christians closest to me.
And, help me to let others recognize the work You have done in me by accepting honor when it is given to me. Let me appreciate their compliments and affirmations, but always combined with giving You the greater credit.
I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to freely honor other Christians for what they do that You ask them to do. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory by building up Your people through the power unleashed by honoring them.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus who lived to honor You, Father God. We want and need the Holy Spirit’s help to extend our honoring to our Lord Jesus, Your Anointed One. And, as Jesus complimented and honored others, let us have many opportunities to honor those in our Christian Inner Circles.
Help us to worship You more by keeping our lives all about You and honoring You. And, motivate us to honor You by honoring other Christians for their accomplishments, recognizing that which we honor other believers were done in Your grace, wisdom, and power.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by recognizing and honoring spiritual obedience and things done by Christians that reflect You and Your love. Satan wants to be honored instead of You, so may we realize that we are denying him honor when we honor other believers for serving You and accomplishing one thing or another.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by honoring other Christians often. Make us ready to be constantly honoring You by honoring others continually forever once we enter the pearly gates.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.