“9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;” (Romans 12:9–10).
There are many scriptures that speak to the subject of honor. In the ten commandments God gave to Israel, He commanded, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exo. 20:12), Paul wrote, “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Tim. 2:1).
- To honor as define by Thayer’s means, “a valuing by which the price is fixed; hence, the price itself: of the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold”
- To honor then carries the idea of valuing another by showing them genuine appreciation and admiration – without any sense of jealousy.
The English Standard Version translates Romans 12:10 this way, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.”
Let’s consider in this lesson how we can, outdo ourselves in honoring one another…