Honorable

"You people draw near to Me with your mouth, and honor Me with your lips, but your heart is far from Me." 

—Jesus

Honorable.

Here are a few definitions of the word:

• Performed or accompanied with marks of honor or respect.
• Consistent with an untarnished reputation.
• Characterized by integrity.
• Guided by a high sense of honor and duty.

What does the word honorable mean to you personally? More importantly, what does "honorable" look like in your life? In your daily practices? 

In your obedience to God? 

The Bible says, "Man looks at the outward appearance—but God sees the heart." (1 Samuel 16:8) 

Talk is cheap. 

It's way too easy to talk a good game—to appear like a righteous person.

But what does God see when He looks at your heart?

One of my life-changing verses from the Bible, and that which I most desire to live by, is John 14:21. 

Jesus said: 

"Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, is the one who loves Me." 

That one verse strips away all religious sacraments, liturgy, good works, holy appearance, and lofty speeches.

It pierces and reveals the heart.

If you love Jesus—really love Him—you will keep His commandments. You will obey His Word. Anything less, proves that you don't love Him at all. It actually reveals that you don't even know Him:

"Now by this we know that we know Him; if we keep His commandments. He who says, 'I know Him' but does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him." (1 John 2:3-5)

Anyone can sit in a church week after week. You can read a Bible. You can talk the spiritual talk. You can look the part.

But if obedience to God is not your way of life, then you are not in Christ.

Jesus said:

"Why do you call me "Lord" but not do the things that I say?" (Luke 6:46)

It's all about love.

Love is a verb. It requires action.

If you truly love Jesus and are thankful for what He did for you—giving you the free gift of eternal life—then you will be honorable, and obey His Word.

—Do you love Him?

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.