Outdo

5.31.2010

Romans 12.10b Outdo one another in showing honor. ESV

It seems fitting on this day of Remembrance to think about honor; what is, and why we should do it. Today we honor those who’ve given their lives on the battlefield or served to protect our freedoms as American citizens. We honor them by thinking about and remembering what they did for us and how many of them died to allow us to keep what we have. It’s a national day of remembrance.

Paul told the Romans to outdo one another in showing honor. That means in part, to celebrate our common faith, and to honor those who contribute to the family of God. If we’re to compete against each other in anything, it’s in how we show honor to each other in the service of Christ and in the Church.

Why show honor? Showing honor is a way of recognizing the importance of someone’s presence and participation. Honor is a way of saying thank you. Honor is the highly esteemed practice of encouraging someone to keep on keeping on. In the church, if we do it right, everyone is always more important than me; and I go out of my way to show it by honoring them.

Honoring is accepting others, thanking others, and encouraging others because our Cause in Christ is of infinite magnitude, and our victory in Him brings benefit to our world both today and forever. War is hell, but serving Jesus Christ is promoting righteousness, peace, and goodness forever – against which human conflict doesn’t stand a chance.

Father in Heaven,

You have caused me to live in one of the greatest nations in the history of the world but as great as the US is, it holds no comparison to the greatness of the Kingdom of God. I do honor those who’ve fought (and fallen) to protect my American freedoms of speech and religion; but I honor more greatly those who serve to share the Gospel of Christ and witness the presence of Christ in the world bringing the salvation of many through His marvelous Name, amen.