Honor to whom honor is due

Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.  -Romans 13:7

This week we heard experiences of some of the men of Convoy with a member of our original leadership team, Colon Washburn. Colon went home a few weeks ago. While walking with us, he made an impact on many of our lives. He would not have wanted us to make a big deal of that. In fact, he would probably be embarrassed we were making any kind of deal at all. And while I want to be careful not to glorify Colon, I do feel it altogether appropriate to give thankful glory to God in celebration of a redeemed life well-lived.

One of the things that struck me most about Colon was his humility. He had some amazing achievements in his life. And he had some crushingly humbling experiences. Sometimes, those who have enjoyed a high degree of success are reluctant to speak of the disappointments, especially those that come AFTER the successes, for fear their reputation will be damaged. Not Colon. He shared this mindset with the apostle Paul:

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ...  -Philippians 3:7-8

He saw the losses as God's method of transforming him into Christ-likeness, and he took opportunity to honor his Father accordingly. Far from shrinking into the background, Colon took the God-given talents that had once been invested in business and personal endeavors, and used them in service to the Kingdom.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  -2 Corinthians 12:9-10

This week, you will have opportunity in your foxhole to reflect on what you heard in the stories of our brother. Give them a(nother) listen on the podcast, found at this page: https://www.convoynwa.org/audio/. Even if you didn't know Colon long enough or well enough to experience any of those moments firsthand, you will likely gain some insight on what it looks like to walk strong and finish well.

Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  -Matthew 11:9

Go in grace, men!