TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10, ESV)
TODAY’S DEVOTION
And there they were: two friends sharing a victory lap after an intense competition.
What’s wrong with that?
Everything.
Jesse Owens, a Black American had just bested Germany’s Luz Long for the gold medal at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Instead of acting disappointed, Long jumped up, embraced Owens and then led him in a victory lap around the stadium.
In front of Adolf Hitler.
The Power of Unexpected Honor
There were consequences, of course. But what the Fuhrer – and other attendees – didn’t know was that the two men had become fast friends. Though Long missed the gold medal, he couldn’t help but honor Owen’s achievement. “How could I not,” he later told a German newspaper.
Luz Long’s actions remind me of Romans 12:10: “Outdo one another in showing honor” (ESV).
Bring It Home
Neither you nor your spouse may be Olympic champions, but you can give each other the kind of gold-medal honor Long showed Jesse Owens. It’s easier than you think.
TRY THIS WEEK
- Remind your spouse of their value to God and you.
- Celebrate their victories – even the small ones.
- Write a short note to your spouse this week and mention one special thing you love about them.
Outdo your spouse in showing honor. Because love always wins when we cheer for each other.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of my spouse. Help us show a gold-medal kind of honor – an olympic-sized love – to each other today. Amen.
