-November 25, 2022-
Good morning, happy Friday,
“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
(John 12:26).
The relationship we have with the Father is through the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son. When we serve and follow our Savior, the Father will honor us. God honors those who honor Him. In 1 Samuel 2:30, God spoke to Eli the priest and told him, “…I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.”
Eli honored God in his life but he did not restrain his sons Hophni and Phinehas who sinned against God and abused their position as priests. They were corrupt, immoral, and greedy. They took advantage of the Lord’s people. 1 Samuel 2:12 says, “Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord.” Eli’s sons were wicked before the Lord. It says of them, “Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:17). Eli’s sons were out of control and he did nothing to stop them. Both Hophni and Phinehas died when the Israelites went to battle against the Philistines for God’s hand was against them.
Job, on the other hand, not only honored God in his own life, but he also prayed for his sons and offered sacrifices for them just in case they may have sinned. Job 1:4-5 says, “And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the feasting had run its course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did regularly.”
While each person is responsible and accountable to God, it is the parent’s responsibility to provide for their children’s spiritual development, especially while they are living at home. There should always be a family altar with prayer and the Word of God. Parents also must discipline and control their kids. This requires the parents to be godly role models for their children.
For us as believers, we honor God when we serve and follow our Lord Jesus Christ. The Father promises to honor those to honor His Son. We cannot honor the Father unless we honor the Son. Serving the Lord and following Him go together hand in hand. God is pleased when we both serve and follow Jesus. Is it your heart’s desire to serve and follow the Lord? In the Academy Award winning film, “Chariots of Fire,” Eric Liddell honored God by not running on Sunday in the 1924 Olympics. One of his British teammates offered his spot in the 400 meter race and Eric won that longer race, for he was a 100 meter runner, and set a new Olympic record in the process. Before the race one of the American runners passed him a note saying, “God honors those who honor Him.”
Let us then honor the Lord in serving and following Him daily. When we do, we are assured that God will honor us and be pleased with us. Stay safe and healthy.
Serving and following the greatest Master,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 