WEEK 4, DAY 24: RESPECT
Scripture Reference: Luke 8:26-39
When a person feels respected, it can be fuel for their soul. Being respected for personhood should be a minimum expectation for every human being. Due to the sin nature, many people have lived ungodly lives. They may have been in questionable situations and may even have had a wretched past.
Despite all that, once a person has made the effort to turn around their life, respect follows. Being respected by a fellow believer can bring great encouragement. And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet, 2 Kings 13:23. This verse shows how God’s grace precedes respect for His people.
RESPECT GOD, RESPECT OTHERS
As God has provided His grace toward us, we too must provide that same grace toward others. We may encounter people hindered by their past. They are bound in their struggles, and/or lost in their bondage. However, when we respect that their battle belongs to God, we can then respect the person.
Aretha Franklin, the late gospel singer, said in her song, R-E-S-P-E-C-T, “just a little respect is all I need”. Respecting a person for who they are and not for what they have, can mean the world to that person. Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off, Psalms 138:6.
Having a high regard and respecting God is the beginning of respect for all that God has created. As youth, we learned about respecting our elders. Even as we continued to mature, we also learned about respecting those in authority. As we become respected individuals, we learned to give respect back. Especially to those who showed respect toward us. There will be other individuals that we will who show little regard for respecting you or God. And yet, it behooves us to continue to respect God and all He requires of us. I’m a firm believer that respect one earns and once it’s earned, we must nurture it futher. When you’re respected because of your love for Jesus Christ, you have the ability to impact so many more lives.
— Dr. Terry Daniels, Transformation Christian Center, Pastor
Time to Contemplate:
- How God can use your respected life to advance His kingdom?
- What challenges you to show respect to a person at a different place in life’s journey?
Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, I humbly bow to you in thanksgiving for all your grace you’ve given freely to us. Father, you’ve looked beyond all my faults and have seen to my needs. I acknowledge that I’ve looked questionably at others that are not like me. Also I acknowledge that I didn’t always have a respect for their struggle. I acknowledge that I judge them unrighteous. I repent that I’ve had low tolerance and less prayer for their test and trials. I’m thankful that you’re no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Thank you, Father, for respecting each of us we are and loving us in spite of ourselves. In the blessed name of Jesus, Amen.
