My father was in the U. S. Marine Corps where he attained the rank of Sgt. Major. He served in both WW II and Vietnam. He knew the meaning of honor. He knew what it was like to honor others who exceeded his rank, and he knew how to receive honor from the file below him. After he retired, he honored only those who had served their country and those who had attained a greater rank, and he continued to receive honor not only from other military men but from civilians as well. Despite years of showing him Jesus, it was towards the very end of his life that he finally accepted Him as his Lord and Savior. My husband shared with my dad the story of Jesus, the centurion, and authority. Salvation through Jesus finally clicked for him. He understood honor in terms of authority or rank.
My honor, my integrity, is something that I have control over. I can strengthen it or I can obliterate it. Only I can choose to destroy my own honor with my thoughts or with my actions.
Read Psalms 7:1-17
- Do I talk with cause against someone or something?
- Do my thoughts or words pronounce guilt?
- Do I join people in talking about others?
- Are the motives for my words and deeds pure and genuine?
- How can I strengthen my honor?
- What do I need to do to stop destroying my honor?
Lord, I trust in You to save me and deliver me from all enemies, even myself. Instruct me in my words and deeds. Help me to look at the purity and righteousness of my conduct and my speech. You examine my heart and mind – You know my very thoughts! Help me to examine them too. Help me to speak and do justly. Thank you for helping me reflect the characteristics of Jesus, especially integrity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.