God's Honour for Our ShameSýnishorn

The entire Bible is remarkably unified when it comes to honour. A change occurs in every narrative account of a person’s life who chooses to follow God. Though shame is a part of their story, God works to change the trajectory. They are raised to honour. Can you see it in the lives of Joseph, Hannah, Esther, and the Apostles? Paul?

Yves is a young man living in Togo who experienced a dramatic redirection throughout his life. He experienced the shame of extreme poverty and family violence as a child. Before he was even five, he would sweep food stalls, hoping to find crumbs. People began to call him “leftovers.” His mother, desperate, heard that a church was willing to help children. Once registered at the Compassion centre there, Yves received gifts he never dreamed of – food baskets, job skills training for his mom, and a home with a solid roof. He encountered the love of God in action by people who treated him as if he had worth. This is when Yves found hope. At age 11, he preached his first sermon in front of hundreds. Today Yves is graduating from school, and his peers call him ‘Pastor.’ He teaches children and youth about God’s love and serves his church as a speaker, musician, and advocate for the poor.

So how does our story change direction?

Honour comes from two places—what we achieve and what we receive. If we are the best at something, we gain honour, don’t we? The same happens when we receive a tremendous gift or are chosen to belong to something. Read the first chapter of Hebrews carefully, and you’ll see Jesus has gained both kinds of honour. He has made the universe – what achievement could be greater? What greater honour could someone receive from God than to hear, “this is my Son; let the angels all worship Him!”

Jesus has honour and He offers it to us too –not because of our worthiness, but rather because of his worthiness. Before we do anything to earn it, God reaches out to us with an invitation to belong to him. The world tells us we must believe in ourselves and know our worth. The Bible never actually asks that of us--instead, it points us to know GOD’S worth. Why is that important? Because if our worth is based on who we are, it is very fragile. One wrong step on our part and the shame returns, and the disconnection begins its destruction once again. But if our worth is based instead on whose we are, and we belong to a never-changing God of all honour, THAT makes a difference.

Ask God to change your story and lead you to honour, for his name’s sake. Thank God that Jesus has all honour and that we are invited to share in it.