Being chosen by God is a privilege, but many despise Him, like in the case of Eli, the priest. He and his house were chosen to serve the Lord, but the priest allowed his sons to abuse their authority and corrupt the people of Israel. So God got angry and said:

Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest… Why do you honor your sons more than Me…? Therefore the Lord GOD of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me…’ 1 Samuel 2.28-30

The same way that God asked Eli, today He also asks, “Why are you honoring your children, family, job, reputation, and other things more than Me?”

Though the priest did no evil, he allowed his children to do it. He witnessed them doing what was wrong and did nothing about it, so God became insulted by this and said:

…For those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2.30

These words put an end to the idea that ​​“once saved, saved forever,” or “God’s grace is sufficient for me,” as if Grace were free! It’s as if a person could serve God and at the same time live in sin, lies, and deception.

God wants to see an authentic, pure faith. A person may even be the worst of all sinners, but when he manifests a sincere faith, he honors God. In the same way, God honors him with the forgiveness and blessings he needs.

Here is the reason why “without faith it is impossible to please God!” (Hebrews 11.6)

What kind of faith? Religious? Dumb? Emotional? Fake? No!

A sincere, authentic, intelligent faith.

Now, in my intelligence, I know that God knows everything that is happening within me. Before I speak, He already knows. There is nothing in me that He does not know. So if I try to fake a faith, do you think I’m honoring God? No!

Evaluate your life, because this is a wake-up call to your faith! Because one thing is sure, when we express a sincere, naked and raw faith, we honor God. And when we honor God, He will honor us! But when we do not honor Him, He will lightly esteem us.