You would think that the title of this entry applies to God and His due, but that's not the case:
"And the Lord has today declared you to be His people, His personal possession, just as He promised you, and that you are to keep all His commandments; and that He will put you high above all the nations which He has made, for glory, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken" (Deuteronomy 26:18-19 NASB).
Those three terms are assigned to God's people, which of course today is identified as the church. However, for the church to be assigned praise, glory, and honor means that the individuals in the church are the ones doing the work and performing the ministry that will result in praise, glory, and honor.
I'm sure that makes you a bit uncomfortable, for we have been taught that all praise and honor belong to God. Yet think of God's servants in the Bible, people like Paul, Joseph, David, Mary, Esther, and Peter. Haven't they received those three things having served the Lord with distinction? In fact, when they do, God also receives praise, glory, and honor along with them. Of course, the problem comes in when people specifically seek those things as their main destination instead of seeing them as a byproduct of fulfilling their purpose, expressing their creativity, and having faith.
Are you pursuing excellence in all you do as Paul directed? "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Colossians 3:23-24). Will you allow God to use your work, your reputation, your face in any way He sees fit to further His kingdom and establish His work through you in the hearts and minds of others? Do you give Him permission to make you a household name if He so chooses?
You gave your life to the Lord; you didn't loan it to Him. Now you are "holy," set apart for Him for a specific purpose. Thus, He can use it as He sees fit and bestow on you any honor, burden, assignment, or destination that furthers His plans for your life, work, and ministry. And you may just be the bait, the attraction, or the source that God wants to use to touch many people with the good news of His love.
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