Read: Psalm
91:1-16
Because he
hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him…and honor him. Psalm
91:14-15
The
Presidential Medal of Freedom – the highest civilian award in the United
States, recognizes individuals who have made “an especially meritorious
contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world
peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” It is given
sparingly, but has been bestowed upon such highly deserving names as Mother
Theresa, Margaret Thatcher, and President Ronald Reagan. I can only imagine the
sense of accomplishment the recipients of this prestigious medal must have felt
as the President himself laid it around their necks. To receive that award
means they must have accomplished some great objective or effected some great
change for the betterment of their fellow-citizens of the world. It must feel
as if all of your life’s work has been worth all the struggles and distress it
may have caused. To be recognized by the President of the United States, and
essentially the world, must elicit tremendous feelings of satisfaction.
The only problem with the Presidential
Medal of Freedom is that very few people will ever be “lucky” enough to receive
it. With so few given out each year, the odds of actually receiving the award
would be less than winning a million dollar lottery. In fact, there are
probably many people who deserve the award either whose acts go unnoticed or
who don’t have enough prestige to gain them the recognition needed to merit the
award. In other words, only a small handful of people will ever earn earth’s
highest honor.
Maybe that’s not true. Is a medal given by
human hands that will pass away really the highest honor that can be bestowed
upon a human being? According to Psalm 91, those who make God the center of
their lives and put their entire trust in God will be honored by Him. Is that
not a higher honor bestowed upon a man than the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
Along with the honor by God, Psalm 91 lists many other benefits that can only
be described as miraculous. A President can only issue awards based upon the
authority given to him by the United States and by God. God can give honor to a
man and add a million things besides. Added to the distinct privilege of being
honored by God comes the fact that there is no limit to the number of those
whom God will honor. That gives me and you a chance at receiving it! It is up to
us then to make sure we set our love upon Him if we would be honored by Him.
No, earth’s highest honor is not the Presidential Medal of Freedom, it is being
honored by God himself.
Quote of the day: “We keep ourselves only by giving ourselves to God.”
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