Honor is not something we merely discuss.

We demonstrate it with our lives.

Our Spirit-led anchor is found in 1 Peter 2:17.

Here is the unavoidable implication. If we truly honor God, it will show up in how we treat people. Scripture never allows us to separate reverence for God from respect for others.

This isn’t a new idea. Early on, the Bible lays the foundation for honor. The 10 Commandments set the direction, moving from God to people (see Exodus 20). The first 4 show us how to live in an honor-filled relationship with God. The next 6 teach us how to live honorably with others. And it begins at home: “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with promise.

We cannot truly love God and casually dishonor people because we are all “created” in His image. Genesis 1:27 is clear: “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

That is why the Spirit’s command is so direct: “Honor all people.” Not just the people we agree with or who treat us well.

Today, we’re going to see what it means to “honor all people,” not because they deserve it, but because the way we honor people reveals whether we truly honor God. Since honor begins with God, the first place it appears is in how we see people.

Honor recognizes God’s image, not personal preference.

The Holy Spirit gives no qualifiers. He does not say to honor reliable people or respectable people. He says to “Honor all people” because every person bears the image of God.

Honor is not rooted in someone’s beauty or behavior, personality or politics. Honor is rooted in biblical theology. When we dishonor people, we are not just being unkind; we are contradicting what we claim to believe about God as our Creator.

This is where we struggle. We prefer to honor only those who look like us, talk like us, and think like us. But our holy Savior and the holy Scriptures call us higher! Honor sees the image of God even when the image-bearer is broken. Honor does not mean agreement. It means recognizing God’s image in others.

In a world trained by algorithms to reward agreement and cancel disagreement, Scripture still says, “Honor all people.”

Seeing God’s image in people changes how we treat them, and that requires humility, not competition. Therefore,

Honor chooses humility over competition.

Philippians 2:3-4 says, “in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Honor confronts our pride whilepride competes for control. Pride protects position and insists on being right. But honor chooses humility and never thinks, “I’m better than you.”

Honor is NOT thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less. This applies everywhere: in marriage, church, school, in the workplace, and especially with people who are hard to love.

Honor asks questions like, “How can I serve?“ “How can I listen?” “How can I consider someone else’s needs before mine?“

Many of our staff and volunteers do this by our parking choices (a hospitality habit). Those who are physically able are asked to park in one of our grass lots, allowing older adults and first-time guests to use the paved spots closest to the lobby doors.

Humility is not a weakness; it’s a sign of servanthood. It’s a Christlikeness that always shows up in the choices we make.

Honor is practiced, not felt.

Romans 12:10 insists, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”

A literal rendering of the last phrase of this verse brings clarity. The Spirit is telling us to “outdo one another in showing honor.”

So honor is something you do. It shows up in how we speak to people. In how we listen. In how we respond when we disagree. In how we treat those who can do nothing for us in return.

This is where honor becomes costly. It costs time. It costs ego. It costs comfort. But it reflects the heart of Christ.

Consider David in the OT. King Saul repeatedly dishonored him, even trying to take his life. And when given the opportunity to retaliate, David said, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam. 24:6). Later, he explained, “I will not stretch out my hand… for he is the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam. 26:11).

David’s restraint was not rooted in Saul’s character, but in David’s reverence for God. He honored Saul’s position because he honored God’s authority. David shows us that honor does not excuse wrong; it restrains our response.

And over time, that restraint actually RETRAINS us. Every time we allow the Holy Spirit to help us choose honor instead of reaction, our instincts change. Our reflexes shift. We learn to pause before we speak. We pray before we strike back. We respond with wisdom instead of impulse. Honor retrains our hearts and minds to respond like Christ, not react like the world.

Honor is not optional for followers of Christ.

It’s evidence that reveals what you believe.

Your behavior reveals what you really believe about God.

Friend, you cannot consistently dishonor people while claiming to honor God. Jesus made that clear by His Spirit-filled example.

So, who in your life needs to be honored, not because they’re easy, but because God made them?

Your spouse, parents, co-workers, or that difficult person you’d rather avoid. Honor is seeing people through God’s eyes, not through your preferences.

The way we honor people reveals whether we truly honor God.

Is there anyone you’ve been dishonoring with your words or your attitude? Is God calling you to see them differently?

For some, this is about repentance and realignment. And for some, the first step toward honoring people is honoring God’s Son, Jesus Christ, as your Savior and Lord.

Jesus perfectly honored the Father and gave His life for people who did not deserve it. If you’ve never placed your faith in Him, today is your day. And if you’ve drifted, it’s time to come home.