God Will Not Forget to Honor You
That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
"What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?" the king asked? "Nothing has been done for him," his attendants answered.
The king asked, "Who is in the court?"
Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him. His attendants answered, "Haman is standing in the court."
"Bring him in," the king ordered.
When Haman entered, the king asked him, "What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?"
Now Haman thought to himself, "Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?" So he answered the king, "For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king's most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, "This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!'"
"Go at once," the king commanded Haman, "Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended."
So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, "This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!" Esther 6:1-11
"What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?" the king asked? "Nothing has been done for him," his attendants answered.
The king asked, "Who is in the court?"
Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him. His attendants answered, "Haman is standing in the court."
"Bring him in," the king ordered.
When Haman entered, the king asked him, "What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?"
Now Haman thought to himself, "Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?" So he answered the king, "For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king's most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, "This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!'"
"Go at once," the king commanded Haman, "Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended."
So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, "This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!" Esther 6:1-11
Honor is something humans crave a lot. We delight in being honored, especially when we feel our accomplishments deserve recognition. Every country has some form of honor for its distinguished citizens whose accomplishments have made a difference in society. We honor brave soldiers with distinguished "medals of honor." We name streets, schools, buildings, scholarship funds, airports, military bases, aircrafts, warships and many other things in honor of distinguished people.
Churches set aside special days to honor and appreciate their pastors. Parents are honored by their children at special celebrations. We set aside special days to honor Fathers and Mothers. This is all very Scriptural because the Bible says we are to honor those to whom honor is due (Rom. 13:7)
But what if we are not given the honor we think we "deserve"? What if we are overlooked sometimes for years without being mentioned? What if, like Mordecai, our enemies are rather actively plotting our demise instead of our honor? Do we quietly sit at the king's gate and keep our mouths shut or do we call attention to our deeds in an attempt to be recognized?
Several years ago, I had a friend who was quite upset because he felt he was not getting the proper recognition he deserved for all that the Lord was using him for in ministry. He was displeased with the fact that another person whose ministry was not as "successful" as his was having all kinds of doors opened for him. I simply told him to patiently wait on the Lord.
The Scripture says in Psalm 75:6-7 "No one from the east or the west, or from the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, He exalts another." If your exaltation is self-engineered, it is only a matter of time before you come crashing down!
God will not deny you that which is rightly yours! Wait for God to honor you.
So, do you feel forgotten, dishonored or overlooked? Don't worry at all. Just go faithfully about your Father's business and your destiny. God can wake up the king and make him sleepless until the honor due you is given. Don't focus on honor. Focus on serving. God has not forgotten about you. He can even use your enemies as the "planning committee" to honor you. He used Haman, Mordecai's enemy to plan Mordecai's honor parade. God will announce you at the right time that fits into His divine agenda.
Churches set aside special days to honor and appreciate their pastors. Parents are honored by their children at special celebrations. We set aside special days to honor Fathers and Mothers. This is all very Scriptural because the Bible says we are to honor those to whom honor is due (Rom. 13:7)
But what if we are not given the honor we think we "deserve"? What if we are overlooked sometimes for years without being mentioned? What if, like Mordecai, our enemies are rather actively plotting our demise instead of our honor? Do we quietly sit at the king's gate and keep our mouths shut or do we call attention to our deeds in an attempt to be recognized?
Several years ago, I had a friend who was quite upset because he felt he was not getting the proper recognition he deserved for all that the Lord was using him for in ministry. He was displeased with the fact that another person whose ministry was not as "successful" as his was having all kinds of doors opened for him. I simply told him to patiently wait on the Lord.
The Scripture says in Psalm 75:6-7 "No one from the east or the west, or from the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, He exalts another." If your exaltation is self-engineered, it is only a matter of time before you come crashing down!
God will not deny you that which is rightly yours! Wait for God to honor you.
So, do you feel forgotten, dishonored or overlooked? Don't worry at all. Just go faithfully about your Father's business and your destiny. God can wake up the king and make him sleepless until the honor due you is given. Don't focus on honor. Focus on serving. God has not forgotten about you. He can even use your enemies as the "planning committee" to honor you. He used Haman, Mordecai's enemy to plan Mordecai's honor parade. God will announce you at the right time that fits into His divine agenda.
Prayer: Father, please help me to be totally humble at all times. Help me to focus on honoring you rather than seeking to be honored. Amen.