“Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:10 (HCSB)
As Americans we seem to always have a competition of some sort. We even teach our children very young to compete and to do well, and try to be the best. When was the last time we actually thought, we need to honor that person more than he honors me? This is God’s word and it will stand the test of time. I believe it is true, and not just something that someone made up out of boredom or out of thinking he was a good writer.
In the body we are to show affection to one another, and honor each other to the extent of honoring the other more than they honor us. Our normal thought process, is totally opposite. Thank you Jesus for the restoration and transformation of our minds. In loving one another, and showing this kind of honor, we truly show a picture of Jesus to the world. So many times I see the body shooting itself…and it is troubling. What kind of picture are we showing to the world? It’s not to late to begin. It’s not to late to put others before ourself, and remember what we are called to. First we are called to love, not only other believers but non-believers as well. “While we were still sinners Christ died for us” Romans 5:8 How will we be able to show the lost that we have found such an awesome thing if we do not follow the first call? I am praying that we all will have a fresh spiritual awakening to the Word, and a deeper hunger for the things of God. This world is so easy to fall into. Please don’t ever think that you are beyond falling in this life. The Lord opposes pride…that is probably the scariest thing to me, that my own pride could cause my creator to oppose me. I know full well that I am know match for HIM. That my friend is holy fear. Very healthy, and very needed to remember my place with HIM. I am HIS daughter, and I love the love, but never forgeting to tremble in the presence of our Holy God. HE is worthy of all our praise, and HE is faithful, and just. But HE is also God and not one to be lowered in any way, in our arrogance, or in the knowledge we think we have obtained. HE gets all the glory for that as well. HE gives wisdom, and understanding.
I love that HIS ways are not ours! The transforming of our minds is work on our part, to take in HIS ways and make them ours. Out do one another in showing honor? We have some work ahead of us in this area. Glad that HE can handle that too, and we only have to surrender to HIM. Surrendering is actually easier than trying to do these things on our own.
Jesus prayed for us in John 17, and I am sure HE gets what HE prays for. One of the things HE prayed was for our unity. Maybe this is a step in that direction. Does it thrill you that Jesus prays for us? It thrills me! Trying to honor you more than you honor me 😉
ponderings of a princess... 
It completely humbles me that Jesus honors Me by praying for me, after He went and died for all the things I have ever done or ever will do, just so He could know me. It is the least I can do to try to live my life in a way that brings honor to Him. He has proved His faithfulness over and over again to me in my life through my trials and has given me His sweet wisdom for my reward. I would not trade one thing if it meant to remain in my ignorance. Nope. Not one thing. And I am just getting started and have a very long way to go, but I have learned I can trust Him. I truly want to bring honor to Him and make Him proud of me.
Love You Darla, Laurie
PS. Fires are out and people are returning to their homes, the ones who are fortunate to still have them. Orange Co. always gets left out in the cold when it comes to news. We are between LA and San Diego. The air is getting a little better too.
Oh, Princess Darla!
Great post and great reminder. I am feeling so humbled! 🙂
Thanks for the comment. It seems things are so very busy here lately. I have not had much time to read other blogs and barely have time to update mine. Not sure why, maybe it is trying to find balance. Who knows. Anyway, thanks for the prayer.
Of course I still love you! I think of you often and lift a prayer. You are in the world but not of it. I love how God is using you on that bus!
Much love my friend,
Angela
I love this. The thought of Jesus praying for me, gives me chills. How I love Him. What sacrifice, what total and complete love HE showed and then to pray for us……
Okay, now I need to go to the floor to worship my Savior.
love you princess!!
Yes! The first time I read in the bible that Jesus is constantly pleading on our behalf….WOW! That is incredible! For ME??!!!
Great post Darla – thank you…again!
What I think is so awful and I am so guilty of is competing in the church. We have got to get some humility and humble ourselves and truly have the flesh put to death in that area. It is dangerous. I hate that i have done this and ask God to rid me of it every time I see it wailing up in me.
JH-I am the same..see others do it, and find myself doing it at times..agree it needs put to death…and I am praying for God to rid me of it too! Love you girl and still praying for that precious sleep thing to be there for you soon!
Unity—ahhh, I can’t wait for that in heaven. Of course we must keep striving for it here on earth, but oh, I can’t even imagine perfect unity in the body of Christ.
Have a great week, Princess. Thinking of you!!
Leah
http://www.thepoint-leah.blogspot.com
WOW! Ok thank you for writing this only for me….LOL My princess is back.. 😉 Thank you so much for your help today, geez, talk about oppression…..you walked me through that one!
Love you sweetness! To Him be all the glory…..
Hi Darla,
I hope you are having a focused and wonderful week on the Bus. Praying for your week to bring sweet blessings from the ONE who loves you so much and from Me! This post keeps sinking deeper and deeper into my heart. I was thinking on the competition area these past few days and I had been so guilty of that in the past. I can honestly say I took that one out to the woods and shot it!!! It had taken on a life of it’s own and my own insecurity fed it well. I see it coming a mile away now and choose to turn my back on it. It is enough that I keep my eye on running my own race now, mostly walking because I have always been a clutz. (not spelled right but a real condition for me:)
Much love and many blessings to you!!!~~
Laurie in Ca.
Darla,
I need to ask myself that question more often than I care to admit: Do I honor that person more than I honor myself? On Sunday in our church service our pastor defined godliness as focusing on God vs worldliness where the focus is on self. I think if I ask myself your question it will help me to live more God focused.
Kathy
can you comment back on my blog and let me know if it is a cross over? do you really like the saturn?