‘My Father will honor the one who serves me.” John 12:26, ESV. Jesus promises that when we become the servant of Jesus then the Father will honor us one day. God originally made humans with honor and he wanted this honor to grow. He made us in his image and though it is broken he gave us a new self with a restored image of God. This is our true self and one day it will be fully developed.
Scripture states in many places that God will honor us, usually by saying he will glorify us! (For example, Matt. 13:43; Rom. 8:17, 21; 2 Cor. 4:17; Col. 3:4; Phil. 3:21; 1 Pet. 5:10; 2 Pet. 1:3.) Originally, as image-bearers of God we were supposed to be fruitful and fill the earth. We would have been highly honored in this work. In the next age we will have responsibilities such as being God’s governors over parts of creation (Luke 19:11-27). We will shine like the sun (Matt. 13:43).
How encouraging is it that God is committed to honoring us even though all we have is from him? He honors our sacrifices, our surrenders, our love for others. No worldy honor can compare, which sets us free from needing worldy honor and instead living out the Sermon on the Mount in our everyday life. One day the Father will demonstrate life up his children and reveal their dignity to all creation.
