Saturday, October 11th
Apostle Geoffrey Okeny
“But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor (deference, reverence) except in his own country and among his relatives and in his own house.’” Mark 6:4 (AMPC)
In Jesus’s hometown of Nazareth, the people were astonished by His wisdom and miraculous power. However, their amazement quickly turned into offense because of their familiarity with Him. They knew Him as the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James. This familiarity blinded them from recognizing His divine authority. Dishonor often begins with a limited, natural view of someone whom God has appointed. When we judge someone’s anointing based on their background or past, we underestimate the vessel God has chosen to use.
Dishonor has the power to hide and deny spiritual authority. In Mark 6:3 , the people’s offense at Jesus hindered them from acknowledging His authority, thus blocking the flow of the miraculous. Dishonor isn’t just impolite behavior, it is a spiritual condition that nullifies the grace one is meant to receive. When we dishonor those God has anointed, whether parents, pastors, or leaders,we cut ourselves off from the spiritual blessings they carry. The anointing remains on them, but our dishonor creates a barrier to receiving.
The spirit of dishonor is contagious and progressive. It begins as a subtle inner attitude, perhaps a judgmental thought or a heart of criticism, and if left unchecked, it grows into open disrespect and even betrayal. Judas Iscariot’s journey from follower to betrayer is a sobering example. He walked closely with Jesus but allowed dishonor to corrupt his heart, which led to destruction.
Dishonor never remains hidden; it spreads and intensifies, eventually affecting others and destroying destinies.
Jesus specifically pointed out three fields where dishonor is most likely to manifest: one’s own country, among relatives, and in one’s own household. These are the places where familiarity is strongest and, therefore, reverence is most often lost. This applies not only to prophets or pastors but also to family relationships. Many fail to honor those closest to them because they’ve seen their flaws and humanity. Yet, God calls us to guard our hearts against the trap of familiarity that breeds contempt and to preserve honor in these intimate relationships.
In contrast, Mary of Bethany offers a powerful picture of active honor. She poured out a costly perfume on Jesus’s feet, an act considered excessive by Judah but was, in fact, a profound demonstration of love and reverence. True honor expresses itself in visible, even sacrificial ways. It doesn’t hold back. Honor invites the presence and power of God, while dishonor shuts the door. When we choose to live a life of honor, especially in the unseen attitudes of our hearts;we position ourselves to receive the full manifestation of God’s anointing in our lives, homes, and communities. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, through your word; I recognise and honour every person You have placed in authority and influence over my life. I choose to sow seeds of honor so that I may reap the blessings and not block the manifestation of Your power in my life. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
DEEPER REFLECTION
John 12:1-5 (KJV)Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
Proverbs 27:18 (NKJV)Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;So he who waits on his master will be honored.
1 Samuel 26:7-11 (NKJV)So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!” But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” David said furthermore, “As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.
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