We can honor the Father because He’s first honored us. He has lifted us up and seated us in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:4-6). He has changed our relationship from being a servant to being a friend (John 15:15), He’s called us His co-workers(2 Corinthians 6:1), and He’s made us joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

Why has He done this? Why does He cause the sun to rise on the evil and good and send rain on the righteous and unrighteous (Matthew 5:45)?

It’s the same reason why we need to honor all people:

He can’t allow another’s lack of honor to affect who He is.

I can’t allow another’s attitude to change who He has called me to be.

Biblically speaking, honor isn’t simply for the honorable. Honor is…

Raising another up to my level, because I can’t allow their attitude to change who I am.

If honoring someone is raising them up to my level, we should find evidence of it being done in Scripture. There are plenty of examples. I’ll give you three:

Jonathan did this for David when he gave David the servant his clothes (1 Samuel 18:3-4 ).

And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt. (NLT)

David did this for Mephibosheth when he gave the crippled grandson of his enemy room at his table (2 Samuel 9:8 ).

Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” (NLT)

Most vividly, Jesus did this when He washed Judas’ feet after Judas was already prompted to betray Him (John 13:2-5).

It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

Have you ever caught that in the story? The devil had already prompted Judas to betray Jesus, and Jesus washed his feet. His example is why I can assert “Honor is raising another up to my level, because I can’t allow their attitude to change who I am.”

Jesus did it. He gave us the Spirit to help us. This is how and why we honor all people. Lord, help all your children to grasp this and not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications into every area of our lives.

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. Galatians 5:25 (The Message)

Love to hear your thoughts. The next post will be on how we can honor in conflict.

Finally, “Krino” is also translated “to condemn”. Since we can so easily move from discernment to condemnation – especially when we don’t discern in love – we need to understand what condemnation is.

First of all, it’s not the same as conviction. Both condemnation and conviction bring pain and sorrow, but they bring different kinds…

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (New Living Translation)

Too many well-meaning people try to bring “conviction” but really they bring condemnation, because it is not their role to convict. Jesus said:

But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
John 16:7-11 (New Living Translation)

When should you condemn? Never.

Don’t condemn those inside the family…

Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval. Romans 14:4 (New Living Translation)

Don’t condemn those Jesus doesn’t condemn…

“God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. ?John 3:17 (New Living Translation)

You’re job is not to condemn. It’s not even to bring conviction. You’re job is to show the Father’s love that’s what you’ll be judged by both in this life and the next (Matthew 25:34-40).

We’ll get back to discussing How to Judge and Not Be A Jerk in the next posting…

Trevor Lund
Expectancy Ministries

I won’t go into the details of when I first heard this question but I can tell you, although it has the appearance of wisdom, it shows a lack of Biblical understanding.

Q. Christ doesn’t forgive me until I ask for it, so shouldn’t I wait to forgive someone until they ask for it?

No. First, you aren’t the Father. You don’t have His capacity for grace.  Second, understand that you forgive for your sake, not theirs.  Third, take a look at what Christ said in Matthew 18:

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the servant fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that servant felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servant who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow servant, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
Matthew 18:21-35 (NASB)

Christ said in this parable that if we don’t forgive another from our hearts, torturers will be assigned to us. If you don’t forgive someone until they ask for forgiveness, you’re actually letting them keep you imprisoned.

Unforgiveness is like drinking poison to hurt someone else.

Don’t be mistaken, in this parable the second servant owed the first one 100 days worth of salary – that’s about pay for a 3rd of a year . It was not an insignificant amount.

You may have some horrible  wrongs done to you. You still must choose to forgive. Put the offender in the Father’s hand. He will make all things right. Trust Him. He’s good.