Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The word honor means to pay respect
to or give just due to the one being honored. Since we are born
into the human race as a privilege, we have a certain obligation
to have respect unto our fellow man. We cannot and must not disregard
this freedom to be what God designed him to be, nor do we have the
right to take any possession from him which belongs to him.
We may not agree with his principles or even his religion, but we
have no right to dishonor him as a human being as a result.
Since we have nothing that we have not received, we do not
even have the right to wish evil upon men who mistreat us or hate
us. The Lord reminds us of this when
he says, bless them that curse you and pray for them which despitefully
use you. This is exactly what Paul tells
the Romans, recompense to no man evil for evil, provide things
honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as
lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved,
avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath. For it
is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore, if thine enemy hunger feed him, if he thirst, give
him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his
head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Peter uses the word honor in describing our regard of the
earthly government which the Lord is pleased to put us under.
He describes the unjust, which are marked out for destruction
in this fashion, but chiefly them that walk after the flesh
in the lust of uncleanness and despise government. Presumptuous
are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not
railing accusation against them before the Lord. Because of the
innate sinful nature of men, it is necessary that we be put
under governments of one kind or another. While we may not
agree with those in places of leadership, we have no right
to show disdain and disrespect of the institution of government,
or even the office which they might occupy, since our own sin
has brought about the necessity of such matters. We are fortunate
to be under a government which is, ostensibly, a servant of
those who are governed. While we might see great abuses
of power exercised by those who are our elected representatives,
we must still show respect unto the offices which they might
occupy. And if we feel compelled to unseat them, we must go about
it in a lawful manner, lest we be found to dishonor the king.
While political activism can be carried out lawfully by those
who are the children of God, we have a more noble calling
as the sons of the Most High God. Peter says, love the brotherhood. This is the height of the calling
of the sons of God as we dwell upon the earth. There is no higher
aim in this world among those who are the disciples of Christ
than to love one another. In fact, the Lord says that it
is impossible for a man to truthfully say that he loves God if he does
not demonstrate love to his brother in Christ. This love, which must
exist among those who are heirs together of the grace of life,
far exceeds the concept of the honor which is to be shown to
all men. This love of the brotherhood is founded upon the very principle
of the unity of the Godhead. The Lord Jesus prayed, that they
all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that
they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou
hast sent me. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another. This love is seen as men let
nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness
of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. This
causes the children of God to be kindly affectioned one to
another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another,
and brings about the desire to bear ye one another's burdens,
and so fulfill the law of Christ. It is impossible that we should
know every man who is one of the elect heirs of grace in this
world, even as it is impossible to gaze upon the pages of the
Lamb's Book of Life and read their names written there. Yet
in the mercy of God he has called his people together in local
assemblies, where the chief and sole desire of those gathered
is to see the name of Christ exalted. It is here in these
assemblies that this love of the brotherhood is fully demonstrated,
in the relationships of those so privileged to be apart. This
is one of the reasons we are exhorted not to forsake the assembling
of ourselves together. To forsake that assembling is
to show extreme disregard for those to whom we are united in
Christ, our elder brother who presides there. How sweet, how
heavenly is the sight, when those that love the Lord, in one another's
peace delight, and so fulfill his word. When each can feel
his brother's sigh, and with him bear apart, when sorrow flows
from eye to eye, and joy from heart to heart. If you would
like a free transcript of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor
at windstream.net.