Every day I get a new word in my inbox from Merriam-Webster (M-W). It is the word of the day. Many times, I recognize those words, they are familiar along with their meanings. Sometimes I have no clue how to pronounce them or what they mean. (Thankfully, M-W has a link to hear someone pronounce the word correctly.)
The word this morning was the French, noblesse oblige. This is what M-W says it means. “literally ‘nobility obligates.’ French speakers transformed the phrase into a noun, which English speakers picked up in the 19th century. Then, as now, noblesse oblige referred to the unwritten obligation of people from a noble ancestry to act honorably and generously to others. Later, by extension, it also came to refer to the obligation of anyone who is in a better position than others to act respectably and responsibly.”
That definition struck me, especially the part that says there is an unwritten obligation of people of noble ancestry to act honorably and generously to others, to act respectably and responsibly.
We have been adopted into the family of the most noble, honorable, holy King of Kings. We are called children of God; we are sons and daughter of the Everlasting King. Should we not be the most honorable, generous, respectable, and responsible people on earth?
“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” [Galatians 4:6-7 HCSB]
We actually have not an unwritten obligation but a written one. Scripture is clear about what our attitudes should be like, how we should act, how we must look out for the care of others, how we are to give freely the Gospel which we received freely. Our Savior gave it all so that we might be adopted into His family, now we are to give it all so that others might see our example of faith and surrender their lives.
I have had to think about how my character, my attitude reflects my Savior’s a lot lately. What we are, who we are will manifest the clearest in times of distress and struggle … so far 2020 fits that perfectly.
