I still remember the way I felt when I was honored by Upward Bound: an organization that honored various high school students for maintaining a standard of excellence. They through a banquet in my honor at a very fine hotel. There were many wonderful things said about me and I received several gifts. We all like to receive acknowledgments from others for our achievements especially if those achievements come after very hard work or after having to make difficult decisions.
Speaking of difficult decisions, it must not have been easy for Daniel and his three friends to refuse the finest food from the kings table, but when doing what is right is your first priority and when God’s approval is more valuable than the approval of anyone else, we can have the certainty that God is being honored. Sometimes honoring God will lead us into difficult situations. But it is those kinds of situations that teach us how to depend on God and in this process, our characters are being molded and shaped into one like his.
I am very comforted by the fact that honoring God goes both ways. Just as God honored Daniel and his three friends for standing up for righteousness, he will honor us if we do the same. He does not change. We will be honored both here on Earth and in Heaven before the Heavenly assembly. Sometimes we may need to wait for him to grant us earthly honor and recognition, but we can be certain that Heaven rejoices when we choose to stand for righteousness.
Daniel and his three friends received earthly honor when they were immediately added to the kings council, but the Heavenly Honor they received was greater.All who stand for God especially in matters that seam insignificant, can be assured that Jesus will keep his promise to confess us before his Father and before the Holy angels. (Luke 12:8) (Revelation 3:5)
Here is the Promise that I have committed to memory. This one is definitely worth memorizing because we just don’t know what future challenges we will have to face.
1 Samuel 2:30 (NKJV) “ those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
Amen brother Neville, the Father exalts His Beloved Son Jesus in like manner, what privilege that Jesus has opened the door to the Father, that the Father’s love for us would send His Son for our redemption and reveal to us the Father’s character, Hallelujah 🍇🕊
“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.” (Joh 5:23, KJV)
Hi Neville: Thank you for the word and thoughts, I remember my heart wanting to help psychiatric patients years ago, and God made a way for myself and two other colleagues to create a program called Recovery program. The Lord gave me the idea of the acronym, I C.A.R.E. which stood for Courtesy, Attitude, Respect and Encouragement. The patients embraced the program, and it took off. They were the source that kept the program going and with much prayers and love and compassion for each individual, positive outcomes flourished. We all deserve to be treated with courtesy, dignity, respect and having a positive attitude. I was surprised and humble to receive a governor’s award for the effort, the patient’s clapped and knew about the presentation before me, when I got back to my unit, I was surrounded by them and their smiling faces, the greatest reward was that, their happiness and heart changes that took place…
God bless you brother…sister Bettejean…