The Way of Honor

For sure my Mom and Dad taught me and my sisters to do what is right but somehow I missed the part about about how difficult, even unpleasant, it might be sometimes! There came a time when the reason for "doing what is right" was ... because Mama and Daddy said so or escaping a good old spankin'. Jesus made it particularly clear, "if you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Let's think about this for a moment: do we treat "doing what is right" as some ill-conceived idea of assurance we'll escape retribution, an investment in self-preservation OR do we really love Jesus to the point we would never dishonor Him with blatant disobedience. The highest and purest integrity of the Believer's heart reveals a motive of sheer adoration of Him rather than me. "Faith ... is not intellectual understanding; faith is a deliberate commitment to the Person of Jesus Christ, even when I can't see the way ahead." Perhaps it's safe to conclude our own "intellect" can get in our way of an undivided heart for only Jesus! And, yes, that doesn't always play-out pleasant in life; a few years ago, a close friend of mine stood firm for what was right (thus says The Lord) and was reprimanded then suspended without pay for a few days. James writes, "whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." (James 4:17). When God speaks and we know the right thing to do, debate neither the thing itself nor its merit. Let honor have its way ... obey.