What is this blog about?
The short, obvious answer is to write about honoring God. But, to me it is much more than that. This blog is about finding ways to live life, every day, in a way that pleases God in all parts of life--thoughts, actions, words, and relationships. My desire for this blog is that it will be a place where I can share my thoughts about living a life that honors God. I also hope others will join in the discussion and ultimately we will build a community of believers who come together to share, encourage, and support each other in our shared goal of living a life that honors God.
Proverbs 3:9 says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops." I would like to take this a step further and say we are to honor God with everything we are--with everything we do. I know what you are thinking, that is a tall order -- an impossible order. I agree that it is impossible if we limit ourselves to our power and our ability. Tim alone cannot please God. I fall well below God's standards in every possible part of life. If you read the Old Testament you see the history of God's chosen people repeatedly failing in their efforts to please God--to honor God. So, then, how is it possible to honor God at all?
To find the answer to that question we need to look beyond ourselves. Like God's people in the Old Testament I have proven over and over again that I am not able to live up to God's standards, and yet... I have experienced God's mercy and grace over and over. Mercy that covers my mistakes and grace that reaches out to me even in the midst of my worst failures. But the fact that God loves and forgives me still does not add up to me honoring Him in anything I do. So, how do we honor God?
Over the years I have learned at least part of the answer--God has made a way for us to honor Him. He has done the hardest part of the work for us. He did this through Jesus dying to pay the price for our ransom and sending the Holy Spirit to be our helper. God's work through Jesus was a one time event. But me receiving it and accepting it as payment for my sins is a daily process. I don't mean to imply that I have to be "saved" over and over, day after day. Look at what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:21-21: "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
Once I am saved, I am sealed. God has ownership and guarantees what is to come. I am talking about humility and submission. Allowing God to do more of His work in me everyday. As I receive the mercy of God through Jesus' sacrifice and submit myself to the power of God working in my life through the Holy Spirit I become more like Jesus. A little more today than I was yesterday. God is honored in my submissive humility. God is honored in my becoming more of what He wants me to be. As I become more like Jesus I do things that please God, I think things that please God, and I say things that please God. I honor God by allowing Him to be God in my life and acknowledging that I need His help to be more of what He wants me to be.
Today, humble yourself before God and honor Him in the process.
I would love to hear your comments and thoughts about this.
God bless you real good.
Tim
