Over my nearly 30 years in ministry, I’ve had many people come to me and ask why their faith isn’t working in a certain area of their lives. Often, it comes down to a topic most people wouldn’t even consider—honor.
You might be wondering, “How does honor affect my faith?” I’m glad you asked!
In Mark 5, Jesus did the “impossible” and raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. In the very next chapter, Jesus went to his hometown and preached in the synagogue. The people listening to Jesus’ teaching questioned, “Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Juda, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:3, KJV). The people weren’t asking questions to determine any facts. They already knew the answer to their questions. They asked because they doubted in their hearts about what qualified Jesus, a man from their hometown, to perform any miracles. We see the result of their unbelief in Mark 6:5, as Jesus “could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick folk and healed them.”
“If you don’t want to honor, esteem, or cherish the moves and gifts of the Spirit, don’t worry; God won’t bother you with them.”
Now look at the statement Jesus made between verses 3 and 5, “But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4, KJV). Dishonor is a brother to unbelief. Honor is a brother to faith. Wherever you find dishonor, you will find unbelief.
You can clearly see that the Bible didn’t say Jesus “would do no mighty work,” but He “could do no mighty work.” He couldn’t override their dishonor and unbelief, so He followed it up by teaching to combat their unbelief (see Mark 6:6).
In order to enjoy the promises in God’s Word, we must first honor His Word. In Psalm 119:72, David says, “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” That’s why when Goliath reared his ugly head, David was ready! Your faith is based on how you esteem the Word of God. We’ve got to give it first place.
“Today, we live in a climate where the injection of doubt is common. We live in a world of dishonor. The world wants to tell you, ‘The Bible isn’t true. It’s outdated.’ That’s a lie! The Word of God is true, and it’s eternal!
There are Christians every day who are willing to swap out the blessings of the promises of God for things that hold no value. They spend their time on everything else but the Word. God doesn’t mind us enjoying life and our hobbies, but where does the Word stand? We need to honor God and esteem His Word, because the only part of the Word of God that will work for us is the part we have respect and honor for.
We need to stir up a spirit of honor. Step out in faith by honoring His Word and He will reward you!
‒Pastor Bill
Questions for Reflection
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Is there anything in my life I place in front of God’s Word, whether it be a hobby or entertainment?
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How can I honor God’s Word even more in my day-to-day life?
