If you are looking for a set of values that will give dignity to your life, that will connect you with the life of God, and that will work at a practical level, you need not look any further than these: reverence and respect.
Reverence is what is supposed to happen in our hearts when we are exposed to the power and majesty of God. Reverence (Latin, reverentia) means awe. Wonder. Esteem. Even fear. Reverence is the prophet saying “Woe to me… I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). It is the newly-called disciple of Jesus saying “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8). It is the submissive apostle saying: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Romans 11:33).
The purpose of worship is for us to be awe-filled to the point that we are driven to submission to God. The main word for worship in the Greek New Testament means “to bend the knee.” So every act of worship: praise, prayer, offering, the reading and exposition of Scripture, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, are all most effective when they lead to awe. And that awe is not confined to a church building. We can, and must, stay bowed before God in the workplace, at school, in our families.
And then we turn to the horizontal. Reverence (for God) leads to respect (for people).
The most important thing you can do for the people in your life–your family, your friends, your co-workers–is to treat them with respect. The reason we love is because we respect. We react to God’s greatness with reverence, and then we turn around and look at these amazing creatures God has made in his own image (in his own image!)–men and women, boys and girls–and we treat them with respect because they are made in God’s image. The alternative is unthinkable: to slap the image of God in the face is to slap God in the face.
One thing every person wants, is respect. Every person.
If we want people to grow–we will respect them. If we hope people will find security and confidence–we will respect them. If we long to see the people in our lives have a life-giving connection with God–we will respect them.
Respect is a choice we make. It does not come naturally to us. The easy thing is to use or abuse other people. After all, we’re busy, we have things to do, places to go, goals to achieve. How dare other people get in our way or make our lives complicated. The word “respect” literally means to take another look. “Re-spect”–to look again. That has to be intentional.
Given the coarseness of our culture, it is time to stop and take another look.
It is never too late for us to take another look. To say to God: give me a new vision of the people around me. Help me to see them as you see them.
It is the reason Jesus said the whole Law is summed up in one simple truth with two parts: “Love the Lord your God [reverence]… and love your neighbor as yourself [respect]” (Luke 10:27). Jesus said: “do this, and you will live.”
This does cost us a great deal. Looking at God with reverence takes away all our bragging rights (which we never had in the first place), and respecting people–taking another look–means our treatment of others will have to be more careful, more discerning, and more generous than we ever imagined.
I’m sober and drug free 22yrs and it’s been people showing me how to live this way thanks for reminding me
Mel, this hits the nail on the head. As God loves us, how can we not love others, made in His image. This is so powerful I would like to use it for my teams to ponder as they prepare to enter the brothels and rescue shelters in Nicaragua. Is there a specific link that I could send that will bring up this page?( you know how computer illiterate I am). The first step for restoration of these people is to show them respect- that they are of value. They can then belie that they can be loved.
The most succinct explanation I have read on these two key words that dictate all our relationships, vertical and horizontal. Praise God for your insight.
That was very good. I have often prayed in the past that the Lord would help me to see other people through His eyes. It is often very easy, if not automatic that we lash out (mentally, verbally or physically), in an instant without thinking when things don’t go our own way. It’s tough to teach an old dog a new trick. But with God, ALL things are possible. Praise be to our Lord and Savior. And thank you for this beautiful reminder. God bless.
I think you are right, Howard. It is not easy. It does not come naturally because self-interest always gets in the way of respect. The ironic thing is, that if we do respect others, we will realize enormous benefits for ourselves.
I think this devotion is awesome. It’s want we really need to know and understand and do. People do want respect these days and w/o knowing we are made in the image of God we don’t respect each other. Our world desperately needs Jesus Christ.
Hi Mel
Thank you for sharing these words this morning, I really needed to hear them as the stress of the workplace and the pressure to be a supermom mount. Life has not been easy for me, yet I know that the more I treat the people around me as you mention here I am seeing HIS image surround me in the people I come in contact with daily even the ones I’m not totally in sync with. Thanks for your ministry to the people of Elmbrook over all these years. I joined the church some years ago and your truth and wisdom has pointed me to the path of Jesus Christ over and over. Julie
Thanks for the encouraging words, Julie. And for the reminder that treating others with respect is always the right thing to do–even at a difficult time in our lives.
A great reminder that how we treat people is how we treat God!
I want God our Father to give me a new vision
To see people the way He does and to love and
Respect each one. And starting with my relationship
with Jesus, then myself because I’ve got issues
And then my husband and son and daughter.
Also my sister Laura who is such a thorn
In my side and seems to think she’s never
In the wrong.
Lord have mercy and grace on us all to live
In His character and be living examples of
His will for us.
Great teaching, a crucial and urgent ingredient
To my daily life is this message.
Thanks!
You are absolutely correct!! We all need to be more in “awe” of God! And we need to respect all men, women and children, because we are made in the image of the God we are suppose to Love!! We need to respect God’s word also!! And if we respect it, we must believe it, and if we believe it, we should “OBEY” it. If we all obeyed Gods word, we would change the world!!! Certainly, we would find favor in his sight!!!
I learned something new: re-spect means to “look again.” That really makes sense. Thanks!
Thank you very much for this reflection and depht. It inspires and encourages
something I much needed to be reminded of.
Thanks, Mel. This is worth contemplating and examining in our lives.
I agree that these ideals are what God wants of us. But, the kinder I am to some people the more unkind they are to me – taking my kindness as weakness.
Thank you for those wonderful thoughts and insight
I will try to reflect on them often and live accordingly
Thank you Mel.
The Mission of Jesus was to construct, but not to destroy.
We need to hear, how our life situation “will set up” to the Sermon on the Mount.
And your Meditation remarkable aplied at a practical level for our lives.
Also we need to have priority in our culture and “take another look” .
Yes, first steps is reverence and respect.
Thank you very much, pastor
SC
Mel,
In the past I have always demanded others earn my my respect. I have” taken another look” at this attitude and it’s all wrong. Bless you for your God given wisdom.
…life is about eternity
GMZ
Great reflection on Reverence and Respect… a daily challenge one must exercise in drawing closer to GOD..through daily discipline of reading HIS Word and cultivating prayerful life… the closer we grow in our relationship with CHRIST, the more this GOD-like character influences our thoughts and actions. Thank you, pastor Mel.
Lovely words indeed.