“I went to a retirement dinner last night for a good friend,” Stan began one morning. “He’s retiring after working almost forty years at Ernie’s Electric Company over on Cherry Street.”
“Good time?” I asked.
“It was an excellent time,” Stan responded. “Lots of people there, and my friend did something I didn’t expect, but it was fabulous.”
“What’s that?”
“This was a very special dinner,” Stan replied. “Had it in the banquet room over at Dan’s Diner. Big fancy table at the front of the room with a sign that said, ‘Guest of Honor’ pointing to where my friend was sitting.”
“That was nice that he was honored in such a nice way.”
“It was,” Stan replied, “but I really liked how he turned the honor around.”
“Turned the honor around?” I said, “What’d he do?”
“After all of the guests were seated and Ernie made some introductory comments, my friend stood up and thanked everyone for coming. He said he was going to say a blessing before the meal, but that first he wanted to thank the true honored guest.”
“The true honored guest?”
“Yeah,” Stan replied. “My friend boldly proclaimed his faith, telling the people that Jesus is the true honored Guest in his life, the one he always tries to honor. He went on to say a prayer that was a blessing that included all of his thankfulness for what God had done in his life over the years and what God continues to do.”
“Sounds like it was a great testimony,” I commented.
“It was,” Stan replied, “and, later in the evening, when people were getting up to say things to honor my friend, several of them specifically mentioned how his faith had made an impact on their own.”
“Wow,” I replied, “that’s certainly is a fabulous way to be honored.”
“It is,” Stan replied. “It doesn’t just happen. It comes from living a life that honors God so He can and will be honored by others.”
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Bible verses to consider:
For those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2:30.
Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce. Proverbs 3:9.
The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility. Proverbs 15:33.
He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. John 5:23.
For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Romans 1:21.
To Him be honor and eternal dominion. 1 Timothy 6:16.
Prayer: Father, you are worthy of all honor and praise. I confess that too often I do not honor you with my lips and with my actions. Please forgive me for the impertinence of not honoring you as the Lord God Almighty who has granted me life with you eternally when it’s time, along with the eternal life of being allowed to know you and Jesus before them. Please forgive me for all of the times I have chosen to honor myself or someone or something other than you. Please help me follow every step of your lead so I choose to honor you and, in fact, do honor you with every aspect of my being. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you honored God by accepting His free and gracious provision of life with Him eternally when your time here is completed? If no, why? If you are a Christian, how are you doing with living a God-honoring life? As well as you would like? As well as He would like? If you sense the need for change in how you honor God with your life, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 