Respect: Valuing one another highly, treating one another as important, and honoring one another with our words and actions. (Romans 12:10, 1 Peter 2;17)
James 2:1-9 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
We can’t control the actions of others who are faced with difficult situations or circumstances, but we can control our own actions toward those people. Friends…let’s respect one another as we want to be respected!
The old saying, “you can’t judge a book by it’s cover” is so true! We don’t know by looking at someone what his/her story really is and how it may differ from what they allow us to see. There seems to be so much hate in the world and disrespect between differing groups. Let’s practice respecting others as we want to be respected. They are, as are we, created by God and loved by Him. Showing respect and value to others may very well be one of the most impactful ways we can love others as Jesus loves us.
THREE SOURCES OF LIGHT – Help Us Experience Respect
Light Source #1: Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12) Walking in the Light: Having a fresh encounter with Jesus. (Respect)
Have you ever experienced a time in your life that you were judged by others because you were different than they? How did it feel? Would you take a moment to remember the feeling? Now, please ask the Lord to heal that pain that was caused. Maybe you need to forgive those who judged you? Being judged for being different is one of the greatest forms of disrespect, don’t you think?
Do you know that God loves you EXACTLY as you are? Do you realize that He loves you and me too much to leave us as we are currently? He wants to conform us to the image of His Son, but regardless of the stage of development we are currently experiencing, He loves us the same. He never wants you to be anything different than what He created you to be! He values you exactly as you are!! (Warts and all, as they say! 🙂 )
Would you rejoice with the Lord Psalm 139:14? You are fearfully and wonderfully made!!! In fact, would you read all of Psalm 139? God respects and loves all of us, take time to thank Him!
Jesus valued and showed respect to those He encountered. Consider any of those with whom Jesus had interaction, and you will see that He valued them. He valued those who loved and believed in Him as well as those who hated and betrayed Him.
Question: Does Jesus respect only those people living in the 1st Century with whom He interacted? Could it be that Jesus Christ, who respected others and did all He could to show them the heart of His Father regardless of their response, also values and respects you?
When you see Jesus in your spiritual eyes and with your believing heart, what expression does He have on His face when He thinks of you or looks at you? Rather than a disappointed, frustrated, distant, or uncaring look, I believe He values you and me and looks at us with care, respect, and great hope for who we are and who we are becoming.
Would you take a moment to be still before Him and ask Him to reveal His heart attitude and allow you to see His caring face, His love-revealing eyes, and hear Jesus say what He truly thinks and feels about you? Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 139:14.
Light Source #2: God’s Word is a lamp and a light, so walk in the light of frequent experiences of doing His Word. Psalm 119: 105
Let’s do: Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
What does it mean to honor others? Let’s look at the definition of honor. Honor; Regard with great respect, high esteem, a privilege.
When you come across someone clearly different than you..color, social status, age, hair color, political or religious background… what is your first response to that difference? How does that measure up to Romans 12:10?
We need to remember that whatever the difference, there is a beating heart and soul just like you. Doing Romans 12:10 actually takes the power of the Holy Spirit to get it done. Don’t fear, don’t avoid, and don’t allow anger to stop you from showing the respect and value due even when the person(groups) don’t measure up to your standard. I am not asking you to turn a blind eye to sin or wrong, but differences of opinion or tactics may not equate to a sin in God’s eyes, though the different actions may frustrate you and me.
Light Source #3: God’s people are sources of light so walk in real fellowship with believers and others: “the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14
Take a look at those around you…your neighbors, your co-workers, your church family. How are they different than you? How are they not as you’d like for them to be? Now put your children under the same examination. How do your children differ from you, from one another, from what you’d expected or hoped? Another way to think through this is, does it matter if one of your kids is more athletic or more talented or more _________ ?(you fill in the rest.) It wouldn’t matter to you if your firstborn was different than your last…you would love and respect them the same or try to value and respect each of them, right?
Now I know your neighbors, co-workers, fellow church members, and extended family are not your children, but why is it that we can’t all just get along with our differences? I get it. I know it is easier to love our kids than those outside the family….most of the time. If we got honest and had God’s perspective, we would not want all our kids to be the same.
Speak with your spouse or another caring adult about how your children differ from one another in personality, in processing their world, in their responses, in their assertiveness or shyness, in the spiritual understanding, abilities, learning styles, etc. God created each of us uniquely wonderful, so why can’t we respect one another for the differences God Himself created? Let’s start with our spouse and children and get really good about recognizing differences and celebrating them.
One thing I am sure of….we are not placed next to our neighbors by chance. Maybe they are different than we are in age, color, status, beliefs, political or religious beliefs, but that does not mean we get a pass and can disrespect them. Would you invite your neighbors over for a meal and really take time to value them as a human being? If it were the opposite way around….wouldn’t you enjoy being respected by your neighbor for exactly who you are? Wouldn’t you feel valued if your neighbor just wanted to get to know you for you and nothing more?
Imagine the difference you can make in those you see every week from your neighbors, to co-workers, grocery clerk, church family, extended family, or those in line with you at Starbucks. Let us try to be respectful of each and everyone and let your little light shine!