Respect: April 14, 2010

April 14. TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY APRIL 14, 2010.

RESPECT

DEFINITION:

The condition of being esteemed or honored; admiration.

SCRIPTURE:

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem. Philippians 2:29.

Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Hebrews 12:9.

Honor and respect all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. I Peter 2:17.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In America we have a custom to honor real heroes with medals of valor. But it seems that more than any other time in history scores of Americans from all walks of life are claiming these honors and they never earned them. These medals are medals of respect and many are degrading them by their actions. It is not the medal itself that has value, but what it stands for.

Heroism is marked by an unselfish risking of life and honors are given to show respect. In Philippians Paul commended --- showed respect and honor --- to two of his colleagues as true heroes of faith.

Paul praised Timothy for his unselfishness and proven character and for being a true son who had served with him in the gospel (Philippians 2:20). Paul also commended Epaphroditus as “my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier who risked his life for the work of Christ (Philippians 2:25, 30). Paul then told the church at Philippi to hold these men in esteem because of their faithful and sacrificial service to God. This is not hero worship but an attitude of respect for a life well lived. Having faith in Christ can make an extraordinary hero out of ordinary people like you and us.

We were both taught to respect not only our parents but our grandparents and our elders. In fact learning respect was a priority in both of our homes. We learned early in life to also respect our peers, our friends and our neighbors. Respect also needs to be taught, as it was to us, for property, places and things.

Both of us have commented that we had our mouths washed out with soap when we showed a lack of respect. You do not hear of this happening today. In fact we never took this approach with our children, probably because, to say the least, it was a most distasteful experience.

Respect begins by respecting God. Psalms 33:8 says, “let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him.”Many people do not respect God today. There are not many that respect God enough to even go to church and many not only have no respect for God they deny He even exists. Every day we hear people using God’s Holy name in their cursing. This not only shows their disrespect for God but is breaking God’s commandment, “Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”

In Romans 14:11, Paul quotes a verse from Isaiah that says that there will come a day when “every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will confess He is Lord.” When that day comes think what will happen to those that do not respect God today.

Respecting God is a biblical command and frankly if you cannot and do not respect God you will not respect anything or anyone else. Because most people show very little respect today, we encourage families to discuss respect with each other daily. You need to begin by asking how you respected God throughout the day. Then discuss examples you saw during the day of a lack of respect. Respect is shown through actions and by words and since there is so little respect these daily conversations with your family can be long but most rewarding.

In the book of Genesis we read about the relationship of Abraham and Isaac. Isaac showed his respect for his father Abraham daily. When God told Abraham to take Isaac to the mountain and he found out that Isaac was going to be the sacrifice, both Abraham and Isaac never gave an inch concerning their respect for God and they were respectively obedient to God responding to all God asked of them. God honored Abraham and Isaac for their faith and provided a sacrifice for them on that mountain.

God wanted to not only test Abraham’s faith but also Isaac as for their respect and love for God. In I Peter 2:17 it reads: “Show respect to everyone, love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King.” Peter reminds us as Christians that not only showing respect to God but to others as well is our testimony to the world that we are Christ’s followers.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 21:22.

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

PRAYER:

Help us as a family to learn first of all to respect You with all we have each moment of every day. Teach us to respect people, places and things that we see and meet today. Bless our family with a new and deep desire to serve You with all our hearts.