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As we continue in a series of 'snippets' from the honour contexts being heard in responses and reporting surrounding the world's mourning and memories of the late Queen Elizabeth II …..here is the next 'Snippet' and subsequent thoughts to ponder in relation to our own lives.
SNIPPET 2
A soldier body guard said he "was honoured" to serve the Queen
Similar to Snippet 1, honour is gained by the association with the honoured one, all the more in the official service of the honoured one. To serve is not demeaning when it is in service of the honoured one. It brings a sense of privilege and even honour in being 'chosen' by the honoured one to be associated with them.
In so many places in our modern Western world that doesn't focus on monarchy we can miss the profundity of this. So many people lining up to view the Queen as she was lying 'in state' in Westminster Hall, were heard to comment when interviewed afterwards, that they were there because as part of the military or police, she was their 'boss'. They didn't just work for an impersonal government department…in the UK people in government are 'On His/Her Majesty's Service' (OHMS). It is seen in the context of relationship with a person, even if they have never seen the Majesty in person.
But then there was the extra level of honour felt when a 'subject' or 'servant' of the Majesty actually met their 'boss'.
The above guard went on to say….
"her being there just instilled such pride, such service across all the troops that were there, …when she came up and down the line, up and down the ranks you could see peoples shoulders pushed up and chests puffed out, people sitting in saddles would sit up straighter as she came past and her eye fell upon them…"
SELAH - PAUSE TO PONDER
If this is the kind of response elicited in an earthly monarch's presence and under her watchful eye, how much more should our sense of honour to be a servant of the King of Kings who sees everywhere and all the time, elicit in us a different and changed demeaner, conduct, sense of loyalty.
But at the same time, there is a factor here that we don't often talk about as Christians.
We can think that because we give honour to God we should never acknowledge any honour we get or feel. However, just like these 'servants' of the earthly Queen or King feel an honour in themselves that is not from themselves, we as created by God and redeemed by him are meant to know the honour we were created and redeemed to have…not an honour from ourselves.
To know and acknowledge the reality of being the created of God is to feel the honour of that.
To know and acknowledge the reality of being redeemed by God in Christ is to feel the undeserved honour of that.
To understand the awesome privilege it is to live daily in the presence of God (by his Spirit now and in heaven forever), and serving him, is to humbly feel the honour of that…an honour that is not our own boast but to boast in being in Christ. Those who served the Queen know the honour they feel is not their own honour, but derived honour because of the Queen's honour….but it is still honour.
We might think that the more we think about the honour we are given by God in Christ, we will become proud. But the opposite is true.
The more we don't talk about this or seek to understand more of it, the more we still yearn for honour but will seek it unconsciously in wrong ways. The more we understand a true godly and bibilical view of the honour we have from God in Christ, the more amazed and thankful we become…and the smaller and more humbled we feel, and the more we give honour back to God.
Take time to consider:
Romans 2:7
'to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;'
John 5:44
'How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?'
Let us seek true honour that is given from God.
After all that was actually the ultimate honour the Queen understood too. Her true honour came from the King of Kings she served!
Thank you Sandra for your "honour snippets" in reflecting on how people are honoured by knowing and serving the queen. Yes, believers have received incredible honour in being chosen, called, justified, and glorified in Christ. No wonder Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. May we be ever ready to proclaim Christ. A teenager wants to ring me at 1.00pm this afternoon to ask me a question that's bothering him. My prayer is that I'll be able to answer him in a way that honours our Lord, is found in th e Scriptures and points him to the truth of the gospel.
ReplyDeleteVery thought-provoking.
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