Last Sunday Brenda and I were honored by the presentation of a beautiful appreciation award commemorating 30 years of service at Grace Ministries & Fellowship, now known as West Oaks Fellowship (since our relocation to Richmond Ave). I was deeply moved and humbled by your recognition of my service to this body of Christ and to our Lord. Even though I successfully held back a public display of emotion for the purpose of moving on in that particular service, which I believed was very important, I could have wept; and certainly, I wanted to speak and express my thanks — but time would not allow.
Nonetheless, it’s difficult to adequately articulate or effectively express how grateful I am for the honor that’s been bestowed upon us by you, the congregation of West Oaks Fellowship, as well as the Lord, Jesus Christ. He provided this implausible opportunity and unique occasion for me to serve as His under shepherd and your lead pastor since the founding of this ministry in mid June 1985. Unquestionably, it’s been a lifelong journey of tears, pain, and disappointments, always consistently and steadfastly outweighed by magnificent victories, immeasurable blessings, and the incomparable and unsurpassed joy of seeing our Lord at work — transforming and shaping many lives into His glorious image! Thank you.
The idea of honor is something distinct and significant in the lives of faithful believers when compared to that bestowed upon fellow humans by a secular society/civilization, which generally chooses to honor individuals for some form/type of human achievement.
Similarly, Romans 13:5 instructs and encourages believers to …
Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
The Greek word translated “honor” in this text is “timeén,” pronounced “tee-may” and means to value, money paid as a tribute, to esteem (especially to the highest degree), and/or the idea of dignity itself. However, in Hebrews 5:4 this word is used differently in reference to the honor being afforded an individual who is called out by the Lord God for a specific or unique task in His work. In this case, Aaron is set apart for the ministry of the Hebrew priesthood.
In Hebrews 2:9, our Lord, Jesus Christ, is rightly crowned with the highest “honor” on account of His sufferings and willingness to experience death on our behalf …
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (See Hebrews 12:2)
Here one sees the Lord worthy of honor as the answer to humanity’s dilemma. Christ came in the flesh so that He might suffer and die for mankind’s sin and restore us into a relationship with God that was lost as a result of our sin. As the Lord ministered here on earth, He clearly exercised supreme authority over many aspects of creation; and then as the second/last Adam (see I Corinthians 15:45),
Jesus Christ was established with glory and honor…
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (see Ephesians 1:21) Accordingly, today and forever, all things are … yes everything is … in “subjection under His feet! (see Ephesians 1:22)
Spiritually and biblically speaking, true honor comes from the Lord and is granted to humanity in numerous forms … children, positions of responsibility and service in His church, career and leadership opportunities in business and society, etc. In reality, humans honor other humans, but the Lord honors all humanity first through their position in creation, then distinctly and uniquely as His people! Shall we therefore honor Him? “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God to receive glory and honor and power.”
Just do it! — PF