RESPECT – WHAT DOES THIS ACTUALLY MEAN???
When we moved to the American South many years ago, one of the things we had to learn quickly was the use of respectful forms of speech. Children growing up in states such as Mississippi or Tennessee would never simply tell a parent, “Yes,” or even worse, “Yeah.” Instead, it was “Yes, Ma’am!” or “Yes, Sir!” These phrases were not merely a formality but they were a sign of respect, an acknowledgement that the person to whom one was speaking was a person of worth and dignity. We soon learned to appreciate this manner of speaking and adopted it.
What does it mean to respect someone? It means that you value them, that you follow what they say. If a person you respect advises you to do something, you act. If a person in authority gives you an order, you obey.
Years ago J. B. Phillips wrote a book entitled “Your God Is Too Small.” For many of us, our problem is not that we consider the greatness of God, but that we have no idea how great God really is. Don Moen wrote a song “Be Magnified, O Lord.” Most of us have put God off in a little corner in our lives, a little box. But God is the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe. How can you possibly squeeze an infinite Being into a tiny container and say to Him, “Stay there until I want you!”
Consider this: God made you! God knows every cell in your body. The Bible says that even the hairs on your head are numbered. At any moment, any of us can cease breathing and die. Even if you go to the gym and work out for two hours every day, even if you train so that you can win the Iron Man Triathlon in Hawaii, no matter what you do, you can still die.
When I was in junior high school, one of my friends lost her father in a freak accident. Her father had been eating popcorn and had fallen asleep in his easy chair. One of the pieces of popcorn blocked his airway while he was asleep, and he died.
God controls our circumstances. We did not choose to be born into a certain time or place. We did not choose to be born to a particular family. We did not choose the location in which we were to grow up. God made all those choices. Now, you might be angry that God did not send you to a different situation, but consider this: perhaps God chose you especially for that set of circumstances because He gave you special gifts that would help you overcome them and demonstrate His glory.
What is the opposite of respect? Well, there is a term “disrespect.” “Disrespect” means that you have no regard for someone, you do not consider them as being of any importance, and that you have no intention of minding anything they might say. Now, here is the thing: if God truly is all – powerful and all – knowing, why would you choose to ignore Him? If you had been captured by someone who could kill you at any moment, would you follow commands from that person, or would you taunt them and rebel? Common sense would advise you to be careful.
God is not only all – powerful and all – knowing, but He is also all – loving. Psalm 95:6-7 tells us “O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care.” God cares for us more than we can care for ourselves because God knows us far far better.
Today, let us respect God! Let us worship God! Let us bow before God and acknowledge that He is our Maker and that He is the One controling our lives.
PRAYER: Father God, many of us have never learned how to respect anyone. Please help us to see how great you are and how magnificent you are. Lord, move in our hearts so that we will learn how to respect and reverence you. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.
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