Receiving Honor from God – Beloved Women – May 4, 2020
READ: “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed” (I Samuel 2:30 ESV).
TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: Of all the people you know, whose opinion of you is most important? It’s easy (and expected) to quickly respond by saying the Lord’s opinion matters most, but practically speaking, is it really true?
In this verse, the Lord tells the priest Eli that he can no longer serve in the house of God. Eli has done his duties faithfully, and has taken on the responsibility to care for and train young Samuel to work in the temple. Eli seems to be a diligent minister, even though his sons are reckless.
God’s perspective is different. Eli’s failure to discipline his sons proved that they were more important to Eli than God’s holiness. Eli’s tolerant attitude proved that he despised the Lord’s ways and didn’t consider the temple worth protecting. His willingness to co-exist with his sons’ wicked behavior cost him the honor and position that God had given him.
PRAY: Father, I thank You for the example of Eli in the Bible. His story shows me that it is possible to appear to be doing everything right--even making sacrifices, while still dishonoring you with my preferences and by what I allow and tolerate. Help me to be honest with You and with myself so that I can honor you more deeply and more consistently. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray, Amen.
REFLECT: What are you tolerating that you should be despising? How will you respond when the Lord is displeased with an area of your life that you personally feel is harmless?
CONNECT: You may find more of Candace’s writings on Instagram @growblooming and on her blog seedfruitandroots.com.
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© 2020 by Candace Daly. All rights reserved.
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