HONORING YOUR BELOVED

Several years ago the marriage coach *Jay Tenney was talking with a man in his eighties and the man said something about his marriage that deeply impacted him.  This man’s wife had passed away three years earlier after they had been married for 54 years.  As he sat very comfortably in his wheelchair the elderly gentleman talked about all of the great times that they had shared over the years.  He talked about all of places they had traveled and about the struggles that they had faced together.  Then he said, “I miss her.  I miss loving her and honoring her.”

Tenney said he had never heard anyone say anything like that before so he said, ‘”So you honored your wife?”  He smiled at the memory and said, “I certainly tried to.  I tried to honor her everyday”.   He went on to say that he thought the word LOVE was used too much these days.  He said, “I LOVE lots of things but I HONORED my wife”.  

The phrase, “HONOR one another above yourselves,” is found multiple places in the New Testament, including Hebrews 13:4 and Romans 12:10. Two different Greek words are used, each describing a similarly loving practice:

Timios (tim’-ee-os) “as of great price, precious; held in honour, esteemed, especially dear.” (found in Heb 13:4)

Time (tee-may’) “a valuing by which the price is fixed; honour which belongs or is shown to one, deference, reverence.” (found in Rom 12:10)

While the word, LOVE, is often used today, possibly to the point it’s lost some of its impact, the word, HONOR, is less common. It causes me to wonder how many marriages would be impacted if husbands/wives decided to honor their spouse “everyday,” as the elder man sought to do for 54 years.

To honor one another is…

·    To follow the biblical blueprint for marriage;

·    To strive for the success and happiness of your beloved;

·    To constantly add value through loving words and actions;

·    To learn and speak your beloved’s *“love language”;

·    To build each other up and NEVER tear them down;

·    To always be at your best for your beloved;

·    To always act unselfishly;

Honor says, “You’re the most important thing in my life.”

This is a simple yet powerful principle, although it only has power if it’s put into practice. How can you honor your beloved today?

www.mymarriagecoach.com

www.5lovelanguages.com

AND THE WINNER IS...

Today is Election Day 2012. As I write this blog post the polls, for the places that haven’t converted to main-in balloting, are now open throughout the country. I know I won’t miss the inflammatory rhetoric that dominates network news and the political ads on TV, radio, and in print. The facts become so distorted it becomes difficult to discern what’s true. In this brief post I want to remind bible-believing followers of Christ of the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7 English Standard Version)

When Isaiah used the word “his” in this prophetic declaration he wasn’t referring to any earthly ruler (President, Prime Minister, Governor, Mayor, etc.). No, he was referring to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ! What Isaiah clearly states about this kingdom, that was launched when Christ was born, is most important especially on a day like to day when it seems like there are so many critical positions begin contested on a national, state and local level; as well, on a day when so many causes are being decided that could significantly change the moral direction of our country. Isaiah declared: “…of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.” Friends, we have God’s guarantee that His kingdom will prevail over the kingdoms of this world. It doesn’t mean there won’t be hard things and tough times, and some people won’t reject righteousness, yet our hope remains strong because our hope is in the God of all hope.

King Jesus shares these words with his followers today: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV) King Jesus reigns and rules over all and my hope is in Him today and everyday!