An Attitude of Devotion and Honor

February 12, 2020

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10 NIV

Ever wish there was a simple standard or code for human relationships? We have countless books, podcasts, conferences, and TED talks on how to manage this challenging and often elusive task. We love people, sure. By why is it so difficult to figure them out? Isn’t there a code we could break that would unlock the secret to harmonious and helpful relationships?

Paul indicates that he has found it. The secret is in our attitude. Our attitude toward each other is to be characterized with loving devotion and honor.

What is devotion? The dictionary defines devotion as love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause.

What is honor? Honor means high respect and great esteem.

Paul’s instruction is that my new attitude toward others, flowing from my new heart, is love, loyalty, and enthusiasm for the other person, and an intentional respect and esteem for them that is greater than my esteem and respect for myself. That’s a tall order, not accomplished by following my natural tendencies. It only happens by intentional choices from my new heart. This reaction will never be on cruise control. The natural occurrences of life will make it easy for me to return to old ways of relating, to old destructive attitudes. I must choose every day to live in the new attitude of my new life. All my relationships will show it if I do.

  • In what relationships do I most struggle showing honor and love—close relationships or the casual public ones?
  • What does it look like to show devotion and honor in public relationships?
  • What does it look like to honor and devotedly love in my closest relationships?
  • Where is my greatest challenge today?
  • How would it help me to think about it as my greatest opportunity today?
  • Pray: Jesus, my new relationship with You and my new heart from You is the joy and stabilizer of my life. I want to be made new in my attitudes toward the people in my life. Today I pray that I will grow in perspectives of devotion and honor and that my perspectives will be obvious through my actions. Nudge me when I am thinking wrong, correct me when I mess up. I want to live like You. Amen.