To Whom Honor is Due

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Romans 13:7 English Standard Version

Today is Veterans Day in the U.S. - a day set aside to pay tribute to all American veterans who honorably served their country during times of war or peace. According to the History.com website, "Great Britain, France, Australia and Canada also commemorate the veterans of World War I and II on or near November 11th: Canada has Remembrance Day, while Britain has Remembrance Sunday (the second Sunday of November). In Europe, Great Britain and the Commonwealth countries it is common to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. every November 11." One of my favorite quotes for this time-honored remembrance is, "We don't know them all, but we owe them all."

My father was a POW for 19 months during WWII, thus my family knows something about the cost of serving. So, if you are a veteran reading this, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service. I pray peace in your heart and mind, and blessings for you and your family. Jesus said, There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13 NLT). And He would know!

Prayer:

Father,
            We pray a hedge of protection around everyone serving in the Armed Forces today. Protect them, O God, physically, mentally and spiritually. Thank You for the greatest love of all, the life of Your Son to pay for our sins! Help us to grasp and understand the depth of Your love for us so that we walk faithfully toward You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief

There is no need to fear when times of trouble come, even though surrounded by enemies! They trust in their wealth and boast about how rich they are, yet not one of them, though rich as kings, can ransom his own brother from the penalty of sin! For God’s forgiveness does not come that way.
Psalm 49:5-7 The Living Bible

...a soul is far too precious to be ransomed by mere earthly wealth. There is not enough of it in all the earth to buy eternal life for just one soul, to keep it out of hell.

Rich man! Proud man! Wise man! You must die like all the rest! You have no greater lease on life than foolish, stupid men. You must leave your wealth to others. You name your estates after yourselves as though your lands could be forever yours and you could live on them eternally. But man with all his pomp must die like any animal. Such is the folly of these men, though after they die they will be quoted as having great wisdom.

Death is the shepherd of all mankind. And “in the morning” those who are evil will be the slaves of those who are good. For the power of their wealth is gone when they die; they cannot take it with them.

But as for me, God will redeem my soul from the power of death, for he will receive me. So do not be dismayed when evil men grow rich and build their lovely homes. For when they die, they carry nothing with them! Their honors will not follow them. Though a man calls himself happy all through his life—and the world loudly applauds success— yet in the end he dies like everyone else and enters eternal darkness. Psalm 49:8-19 TLB

Prayer:

Father,

         Forgive us for those times we have been envious of the riches of this world and not for the glories of heaven. Open our spiritual eyes to see the true value and worth of everything and everyone we see. Help us to have singleness of eye when it comes to following Your will and completing the goals You have set before us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen