I was considering the phrase, “a badge of honor”.

This is what I found online about that phrase:

“The Badge of Honour, accompanied by the King’s Certificate and Badge of Honour, is a civil award previously presented by the governments of British colonies and protectorates, and now by British Overseas Territories, to recognise loyal and valuable service by native chiefs and other non-European dignitaries.”

A recipient of the Badge of Honour would wear it with pride. I would hope it would be a pride based in humility, and other God-honoring characteristics.

What badge do you and I wear? What does it mean? Do we wear badges of self-centeredness or others focused? Do we wear badges of pride or humility? Do we wear badges of kindness or unkindness? Would others say our badge is mercy and grace? Perhaps other badges come to mind as you consider this.

Based upon God’s perspective, what character traits should His people wear?

I like how Micah 6:8, in the Amplified Version, depicts some of the badges of honor God’s people should wear: “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?”

In God’s perspective, what is good is to be a just person, a person who does not take sides based upon deception or impropriety.  But God wants His people to base decisions on His righteous standards. It is far too common today for people to have feelings of empathy that are not connected with truth, the truth of God’s Word.

In God’s perspective, His people are to diligently practice love. Again, we must be careful that our love for one another isn’t based on emotions, but is based in words and deeds as described in the Bible.

In God’s perspective, kindness ranks high. Kindness should be shown to all people. Luke 6:27-28 states: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” I am not saying any of this is easy. It is NOT easy. It is the working of the Holy Spirit in us. This is one way God confirms that we belong to Jesus, we are kind when otherwise we would be unkind.

In God’s perspective, humility is another badge of honor. I believe humility is foundational to all the other characteristics we should be wearing. Humility, as the description in the above verse states, means we set aside “any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness”. This is not natural for us, but Godcan make it possible in His people as we lean upon His Spirit, who enables us to deny ourselves as we follow Him. 

Matthew 16:24-27 states: “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”

As Jesus called people to follow Him, there had to be a decision to turn from everything that was comfortable and familiar in their lives. We turn TO Jesus, and He slowly and methodically changes who we are, and builds in His people a new lifestyle, a new character that represents Him.

Jesus is our ultimate “badge of honor”! 

We should be very proud [in a humble way] to “wear” His character. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Note that the new is here already, it isn’t a future tense. We must determine to “wear” the new character of Christ. 

We “wear” our new character by being those people described in Micah 6:8, and other Scriptures from God’s Word.

How might God have changed your idea of what is the badge of honor for His people?

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk about having a relationship with Jesus, so that He is your badge of honor. Please don’t let this moment pass without knowing for certain Jesus is your Lord and Savior, you may not have tomorrow to make that decision.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.