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)
I would like to focus on the honoring part of respect if I may. Often when we think of honoring someone we may think of a prestigious person or a hero of sorts, but how does honor fit into our marriage? How do we show honor to our spouse?
Honor with our words
The words we speak to one another can either build up or tear down. When we honor one another with our words, (praise, encouragement, appreciation) we show we value and respect our spouse. Speaking truth, even hard truth, honors our spouse especially when spoken in love. Ephesians 4:15 says it beautifully.
Honor with our actions
Care for one another. This may be as simple as washing the dishes or folding clothes. If it is something that will help your spouse feel cared for, feel your respect and feel special, then by all means do it.
Honor with our thoughts
At times our thoughts can be very disrespectful about our spouse, don’t you agree? We get mad or frustrated with her/him and our thoughts may not be so honoring. Our actions are often a reflection of our thoughts; therefore, we can choose to refocus and bring our thoughts to God in prayer. Allowing Jesus to capture our thoughts will change not only our words, but also our behavior toward our spouse…and others!
Honor through admiration
Purposefully tell your spouse something you admire about him/her. As you see your spouse accomplish a task at work, express how proud you are of her/him. You see your spouse handle a sticky situation with grace and care, tell him/her how he/she reflected Christ in that situation.
Honoring our spouse is a way to communicate to her/him, I am FOR you and you mean the world to me!
Jesus – The Light of the World: (Jesus Meets Our Need For Respect)
Gen 1:26 Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
Luke 12:6-7: Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Isaiah 43:4: Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Gen. 1:27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Feel honored yet? How incredible our God is!
Since the world began God placed tremendous value on your very existence! He created you in His image! (Gen 1:26) He was with you when you were formed in the womb. (Ps. 139:15-16) He is with you to this very day! (Matt. 28:20)
If you are looking for a study in The Word, may I suggest searching through scripture and keeping a journal of all the ways God honors, respects and values you. May it grow your love for The One Who loves you most!
His Word – A lamp and a Light
Let’s do:Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Are you the competitive type? How about this “competition” in your marriage? Outdo one another in showing honor!
I say this all the time within the 52 WKP, “Purposefully do…..” I say purposefully because honestly, you need to set your mind to do it. It means finding out what your spouse needs and purposefully set out to meet that need. Why? Because your marriage relationship will flourish! You will not have just a good marriage, you will have a great one!
So…this week, “purposefully” set out to honor your husband/wife!
You And I Are “The Light of the World” – Jesus Said So.
Did you know that when you regularly practice or purposefully set out to honor your spouse that others will see Christ in your marriage? When we love our spouse the way Christ loves us, we are a great reflection of His love to others. As we honor our spouse, we honor Jesus and show others a clear picture of our God’s heart. We can give great honor to our spouse, as we come to know and accept our value to our loving God.
What do others see when they look at your marriage? Do they see an example of God’s love, care, respect, and forgiveness or do they see the world, selfishness, hurt? You can choose what others see.
Will you choose to be an authentic reflection of Christ to others by how you and your spouse treat one another, especially showing the value of a human life by respecting one another?