We spend much of our lives managing or avoiding difficulty and unpleasantness. Suffering is something to be side-stepped at all costs, right? In fact, for many, if we suffer we feel it is probably because we have done something wrong. Made a mistake. Not been smart enough.
We must look deeper into suffering and consider the issue of what is honorable as we encounter the pitfalls and life challenges we face. In our opinion – Jesus suffered because He was honorable. He chose to leave perfect goodness and expose His own humanity to evil. His Father’s will was more important to Him than anything He would attain in His brief time on earth. Suffering and honor meshed in the heart and life of God’s Son.
So, the reason we suffer, while it can often be tied to our shortcomings or self-centeredness, also may be connected to our choice to follow and obey God. True honor has little to do with self-gratification, yet when we choose to live honorably in a dishonorable world there is a weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Yet our choices for honor toward both God and man are at the core of the success of our spiritual stories.
Let’s follow part of this woven thread. Consider:
√ Humility and honor are deeply linked: “The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility.” Proverbs 15:33
√ Consider the heart and the curse: “If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.” Malachi 2:2
√ Honor in life is always connected to God: “so all will honor the Son even as we honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” John 5:23
√ Futile speculation is inevitable with no Light in our heart: “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
√ Honorable living now is completely tied to to the life to come: Rom. 2:7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life … ” Romans 2:7
√ This is one of the chief processes of forever honor before God: “… so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” 1 Peter 1:7 and: “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” (1 Peter 2:17)
√ Honor is the beginning and end of the Story: “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” Revelation 4:11
√ Suffering and Honor find favor with God: “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” 1 Peter 2:20
√ A little Hope and perspective: “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
This is what made up the lives of the great men and women of faith we see in God’s Word. It is part of our journeys as well!
Overcoming with you!
Dave and Burnadette
More:
The Suffering of Jesus
The Suffering Principle
Suffering and the Fight