Bring Honor to the Family

ValMay ♦ January 3, 2020 ♦ Leave a comment

I was struck by that phrase in a preview of the new live-action Mulan movie that is coming out in the Spring. Children, in their culture, were taught to bring honor to their family. The phrase struck me to the heart, to the point of tears. Why?

It’s New Year’s Day and of course we all hear and talk about New Year resolutions. I’m not a fan of them in the general rigid way, but I do think about what are some things I can work on in the New Year time frame. Yes, I want to get healthier and stronger after back surgery. Yes, I want to read more books, and yes, I would like to de-clutter my house. Of course, I want to help others more on this journey and be more hospitable, to share the love of Christ, and be kinder.

But when I heard the phrase, “bring honor to the family”, I realized that was my ‘word’ for the New Year: bring honor to my family but not just to my immediate family, but also to the family of God and ultimately to the Lord. I want to honor Him in everything I do. Honoring Him in the best definition of the word: “high respect; great esteem.”

So what does that mean? How can I honor the Lord? I think part of this year’s journey will be to discover the many facets of honoring. Starting out, I know that in order to honor Him, I must spend more time with the Lord to understand what brings honor to Him. I must be deliberate and purposeful about connecting with Him in a fresh, new way, daily. Easier said then done. We all know the basics, to love, be kind, be respectful, helpful, be accessible, to listen and give of our time. None of this is easy in today’s world: we are pulled in so many directions and have access to so many distractions and sometimes it’s so easy for the business of life and distractions (like screen time) to take over and crowd out quiet moments with God and time with others. But we must fight this and live life, bringing the life-giving love of Jesus to others, which is the ultimate way to bring honor to the Father.

I think this is what New Year Resolutions are all about: choosing to be deliberate about the important things in life. This year I’m choosing honor.

“I will praise you with all my heart, Lord my God, and will honor your name forever.” Psalm 86:12 (CSB)

Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” Psalm 29:2 (NLT)

“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:13 (KJV)