THOSE THAT THE LORD WILL HONOUR

Dearly Beloved, THOSE THAT THE LORD WILL HONOUR “Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ 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” (1 Samuel 2:30 NKJV). It is desirable and honourable to be honoured by God. He does want to honour people. He promises in Jeremiah 30:19 to honour His people. However, His honour is not automatic. Anyone who desires to be honoured by God must be ready to first honour God. It is reciprocal (see 1 Samuel 2:30). While God desires to honour people, if you do not honour Him, do not expect His honour. A vivid example of this scenario was the case of Eli and his sons in 1 Samuel 2. Eli was the priest of the Lord at the tabernacle in Shiloh. However, his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who assisted him in the priesthood, were corrupt and did not know the Lord. They were taken offerings from the people by force, even to the point of committing sexual immorality with women that were serving God at the tabernacle! God sent a man to Eli to tell him that inasmuch as his children were not honouring Him, He also would no longer honour him (that is, Eli) and his lineage. In fact, God prophesied that there would no longer be anyone in his lineage who would be serving in the priesthood again. This prophecy came to pass when Eli and the two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died the same day and Solomon banished Abiathar, a descendant of Eli, from performing priestly roles (see 1 Samuel 4; 1 Kings 2:26-27). Undoubtedly, you want God to honour you. It is good to have such desire. God is ready to honour you. However, are you ready to pay the price? Are you ready to honour Him in return? Are you ready to honour Him with your time? Are you ready to honour Him with your substances (Proverbs 3:9)? Are you ready to honour Him your talents and gifts (Matthew 25:14-30)? Are you ready to honour Him with your body (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)? Are you ready to honour Him with your heart (Deuteronomy 6:4-7; 11:13; Proverbs 3:5; 4:23; 23:26; Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:30-31)? Are you ready to honour Him with most especially your whole life? Another way of honouring God is by not oppressing the less privileged (see Proverbs 14:31). Are you ready to do this? If you honour God, God will honour you. Those that the Lord will honour are only those that are ready to honour Him with all these highlighted things. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will honour God with your whole life so that God will honour you in return.