How We Respond…Matters
Written by Jarred Rushing
(5 minutes)
"Then the King will turn to those on his right and say, 'You have a special place in my Father's heart. Come and experience the full inheritance of the kingdom realm that has been destined for you from before the foundation of the world! For when you saw me hungry, you fed me. When you found me thirsty, you gave me drink. When I had no place to stay, you invited me in, and when I was poorly clothed, you covered me. When I was sick, you tenderly cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me.' Then the godly will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and give you food and something to drink? When did we see you with no place to stay and invite you in? When did we see you poorly clothed and cover you? When did we see you sick and tenderly care for you, or in prison and visit you?'
And the King will answer them, 'Don't you know? When you cared for one of the least of these, my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you demonstrated love for me.'" (Matthew 25:34-40)
I want us to remember the quote from Bill Johnson that we read yesterday:
"A culture of honor is celebrating who a person is, without stumbling over who they're not."
I would encourage you to go read the entire story found in Matthew 25, starting in verse 31. It is a sobering story. I don't believe it's in Abba's heart to threaten punishment (ever), rather this story is meant to show us the connection between honoring Jesus and honoring the people that have been planted in our life. If there's one thing we must understand about honor, it's this: we cannot say we honor God, if we cannot honor people. There's a seed of Yahweh that's been embedded in every single person. This story in Matthew 25 tells us that it's not just a seed, but a full-grown Christ who dwells within them, so much so that when we honor them we have honored Him. That's a big deal.
Take a few moments to meditate on what this actually means.
My honoring the people that Abba has planted in my life is directly tied to my honoring Him. Think about who this might include in your life.
Your spouse.
Your children.
Your mother and father.
Your brothers and sisters.
Your spiritual authority, your pastors.
Your Kingdom family, your church-family.
Your close friends.
Your co-workers.
Even the complete strangers that Abba brings across your path today.
Hidden in each one of them is the King of Glory.
And however we honor them will be how we honor Him.
How we speak to them is how we speak to Him.
How we treat them is how we treat Him.
How we serve them is how we serve Him.
How we love them is how we love Him.
The Pharisees fell into one of the traps of religion, that many of us fall into occasionally. They started to believe that they could treat God one way while treating people in a completely different way. They started to believe that God was to be honored no matter what, but people had to earn it. Pharisees had no time for sick people. Sick people could only come back to the temple once they were well. People with financial needs were seen by religion as inconveniences. Children were seen as nuisances because they had nothing of value to bring to the table. Elderly mothers and fathers were left destitute as religious sons and daughters "pledged their money to God" instead of honoring their own parents. That’s why Jesus confronts the Pharisees and corrects their definition of honor:
“Frauds and hypocrites! Isaiah described you perfectly when he said: These people honor me only with their words, for their hearts are so very distant from me. They pretend to worship me, but their worship is nothing more than the empty traditions of men.” (Matthew 15:7-9)
People that pursue personal destiny over generational legacy can only help people who can help them back. They can only honor people who can return the favor.
Jesus comes along in Matthew 25 and corrects our delusional way of thinking.
And the King will answer them, 'Don't you know? When you cared for one of the least of these, my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you demonstrated love for me.'" (Matthew 25:40)
I think we shy away from passages like these because we don't want to accept the fact that how we respond to the presence of God actually matters. But it does. We don't shy away from this reality in our home. How my children respond to me...matters. No, it doesn't have a bearing on my love for them. They have my love for all eternity. It has a bearing on how much of my presence they are willing to enjoy. And I know for a fact, nothing opens up the floodgates of a father's heart like honor. Honor in the heart of my kids stops me in my tracks. I can only imagine what it does in Abba's heart when He sees it in me.
How we respond to the presence of God matters. Whether we honor Him or dishonor Him...matters. Dishonor will keep us from experiencing and enjoying the depths of His presence. There are riches in the glory of His presence that we can forfeit based on our level of honor.
I keep hearing this phrase in my spirit as I meditate on honor: "Nazareth was supposed to experience so much more than a few sick people being healed." There's so much more on the other side of our honor.
As you take the walk with Abba today, I believe He will give you opportunities to honor Him by giving you opportunities to honor other people. As you begin this day ask Abba for a greater sensitivity, a greater awareness, of His presence inside the people that He's planted in your life. As you hear His whisper today, don't withhold your honor. Abba has given you time, talents, treasures and the words on your tongue to invest in the honor of other people, which is ultimately the honor of Him.
Don't you know? When you honor them, you honor Him.
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Worship: "Pure" by Abbie Gamboa and Upperroom
Honor: You can honor what Abba is doing at The Wilderness Place by giving online.
Share With Us: We would love to hear how you're encountering Abba in your daily walks. Don't hesitate to share what you're hearing, seeing, or sensing in His presence. Email us here!
