Monday Morning Munch No. 93 – How to get honor

“Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness and honor.” -Proverbs 21:21

So many people, including some of my True Beauty girls, are afraid that if they give control and reign of their lives to the Lord of the universe that they will be put to shame, mocked and made fun of.

This verse quiets that thought lie.

Whoever pursues righteousness and honor (package deal, you can’t pursue one without the other) will indeed find life, righteousness and HONOR.

Those who seek these things will not be put to shame (Psalm 34:5), they will be honored.

What is this principle?

Honoring the humble. Those who humble themselves (notice they don’t need someone else to humble them) will be exalted. We see it time and again throughout Scripture.

Does this mean a believer will never encounter persecution? Of course we know that isn’t true. Look at believers righteously pursuing God around the world. Moreover look at Christ Himself. O sacred Head now wounded.

The most righteous One was put to shame by all accounts and appearances, but He was actually in the process of being honored.

He pursued kindness to the death, teaching us all the ultimate kindness is found in laying down your life for a friend.
He pursued life through death, thus making a way for all of us to find life.
He pursued and “found” righteousness in the form of being restored to sinless perfection after He swallowed sin and the holy wrath of God for us, conquering sin, Satan, death and hell.
He pursued and “found” honor as He endured the cross, despising the shame, and set down at the right hand of God.

The way up for a Christian is the way down. This has always been the case.

So if we are counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus, let us remember who will ultimately be put to shame (I’m looking at you, Satan and all your legions) and remember our Lord, who was exposed, broken and shamed for our transgressions.

With that in mind, we can be effectively joyful in all our circumstances or situations, knowing whatever trial may come has not only been filtered through the fingers of God’s love but is working for us a glory unworthy to be compared to the joy that’s coming.