June 25, Honor Him

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 

I Peter 3:15

We are called to “revere” Christ in our hearts as Lord.  From Greek terminology (revere - hagiazo), we are called to set apart Christ as Lord with the highest sense of sanctification.  (The old translation of the above verse reads, “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.”) Please understand how significant this becomes as our ultimate expression of faith.  

The Lord is set apart by His people externally through worship, praise, the unity of fellowship, and the holy ordinances.  But in I Peter 3:15, the intention is the internal sanctification or internal setting apart of Jesus Christ as our Lord.  We sanctify His place as Lord not because we add to His holiness, for He is perfectly complete in His holiness, just as He is in all of His attributes.  But we sanctify His place as Lord by our reverence of Him, and by honor we give to Him.  

Why is this such a high calling, especially in this present day?  The call to revere Christ in our hearts counters the nonchalance by which many erroneously treat the name of Jesus.  Now, He most certainly must be seen as friend - as One with whom we have the closest of communion.  He must be known personally by the relationship offered to us through faith in His atonement.  However, this in no way diminishes the need to constantly and purposefully revere Him as Lord with the highest of honor in our hearts.  

Therefore, I am reminded this morning that I cannot go about my faith in Christ casually.  There is a reverence that must occupy me day in and day out.  

I must be as Moses with my feet fixed upon the Holy Ground (Exodus 3:5). I must be as a child consumed by His greatness, and in holy fear of His power and might.  

I must approach my journey of faith each morning totally overcome by His majesty.  This indeed is my inner sanctification – that I would truly set apart the Lord in my heart.  

This is no small agreement of my spirit with His!  This becomes the highest position of faith.  This represents me dethroning self, and sometimes “self” does not easily abdicate the heart’s throne.  

Oh, to sanctify oneself is to most assuredly bow oneself before the very person of Jesus, and for whatever it would cost personal pride and relished pursuits, to pour the “nard” upon His feet and to wipe with one’s own hair.  For, this One you and I have claimed as personal Savior and Lord is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  

Revere Him in your heart.  Honor Him.  Set Him apart.  This is the way of the one who truly follows Jesus.

Blessings.