Obedience Series #6 - RESPECT

Obedience Series #6 - RESPECT

What every happened to respect?  We live in a society that increases in disrespect everyday.  As an example: many people in the modern world have gone from holding Police Officers in the highest regard to now mocking and even harming those who vow to protect the public.  Or, going from children desiring to do what their parents ask of them to children suing their parents because the child "knows their rights."  WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO RESPECT?!!!

Before we begin, let's define the word "respect - a feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, valuable, important.  A feeling or understanding that someone is important, serious etc and should be treated in an appropriate way.  Admiration, esteem, reverence & high opinion.

Who should we respect? - What does God say?

God
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind."  Luke 10:27
This, of course should be obvious - number 1: Respect God.

Parents
"Each of you must respect his mother and father" Leviticus 19:3
I know that this can be difficult for some people, especially if their parents are unbelievers or for those who have been abused by their parents but what a witness "respecting your parents" even in adversity is to everyone else watching!  I am not saying that you should continue to put up with abuse if that is your situation - but as an example: a father verbally abuses his son for most of the son's life.  The father is now elderly and becomes ill and needs help.  The son forgives the father for the abuse & takes care of his ailing father until he passes away.  This son's actions are a witness to his father & to those watching!

Elderly
"Show respect for the elderly & revere your God.  I am the Lord."  Leviticus 19:32
This is an area where our current society has fallen short.  It is rare to see a teenager treat an elderly stranger with respect.  It doesn't have to be a stranger - even the way that I've seen children in public act towards their own elderly family members is appalling.  How have we fallen so far as a society?!!

  Master
"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ."  Ephesians 6:5
Master can also mean our employer.  We might "fear" our boss but that rarely goes hand in hand with respect - most of the time it is fear of losing one's job.  There are many variables that might cause one to disrespect our bosses - in a few weeks we will talk about whether we should obey authority when it goes against what we believe.  Generally speaking though - if your boss is asking you to sin - then find another job!

Church
"Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you."  1 Thessalonians 5:12
This is another area that can be difficult for many - respecting our church elders even when you are being held accountable for something that you did wrong.  It's not easy to confront somebody when they've done something wrong but it's even more difficult to respond in a respectful manner - take that rebuke to heart and repent.
"Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain."  1 Timothy 3:8

Spouse
"However, each of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."  Ephesians 5:33
You will noticed that it goes both ways - wives respect their husbands and husbands respect their wives.  It is NOT a one way street!
"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."  1 Peter 3:7

Everyone
"Show proper respect to everyone:  Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."  1 Peter 2:17
We might be the only witness to Christ that a stranger might ever meet! 
I love the first scripture at the beginning of this post "do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed."  Actions speak louder than words and treating anybody and everybody with the "proper" respect is the best witness.

Self
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?"  1 Corinthians 6:19
You must respect yourself - Jesus died so that you might have eternal life - that makes you respectable!

Be respectful!

#1 Christians are NOT Excluded from Obedience
#2 Holiness = Obedience to God
#3 Obeying God with Your Body
#4 Obeying God Makes His Actions Your Actions
#5 Taking Care of Your Family

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