Category Archives: Respect

Bible, Honor, Respect, Scripture, Servant, Service

HONOR GOD’S SERVANTS

PHILIPPIANS 2:29

“Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold people like him in high regard,”

When I was growing up in Southwest Georgia in the 1960’s and 70’s, preachers and missionaries were held in high regard. I can still remember the awe I felt every time a missionary visited our church. Their dedication and sacrifice hit me hard even as a child. Little did I know that in late 1977, at 17 years of age, God would call me into full-time ministry. I had no idea what that meant, but He has guided me all these years.

Paul gave the church in Philippi some instructions regarding the return of Epaphroditus. He wanted them to “receive him…with all joy” and “hold…him in high regard.” Epaphroditus had served faithfully and was deserving of the honor and respect due any servant of the Lord. Why would Paul have to ask the church to do that? Because, as Christ said, a prophet is not honored in his own town. Right?

APPLICATION

The Greek word used here for “high regard” is only used five times in the New Testament. It’s the word entimos, which means to hold in honor or to treat with respect. In Luke 7:2, entimosis used to describe the servant of the centurion who was sick. “And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.”

But the verse I really like that uses this word is 1 Peter 2:4. “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,…” The Topical Lexicon says this about the use of this word there. “Here, entimos highlights the intrinsic value and honor of Christ, despite human rejection, affirming His esteemed position in God’s redemptive plan.” Christ was precious to God.

Just as Christ is highly regarded and precious in the sight of God, we are to hold His servants in the same way. This week show your Pastor that kind of respect. Bless a missionary or church volunteer. Honor those who serve. Bless those who sacrifice for kingdom work.

Father, help me show honor and respect to those who are serving you sacrificially this day.

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Bible, Husbands, Love, Respect, Scripture, Wives

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

EPHESIANS 5:33

“Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.”

Back in the 1960’s Aretha Franklin had a hit song entitled, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.” The song was talking about her wanting a little respect from her man when she comes home. Even though the song was super popular and really made her a star, the message is all wrong. Biblically speaking, it is the woman who is supposed to show respect to the man, not the other way around. Now, before you get mad and stop reading, I am not saying a woman should not be respected. I am saying when a man is shown the respect God intended from his wife, there will be reciprocal respect shown.

Notice today’s verse. Paul is wrapping up this passage on husbands and wives with this message. Husbands love your wives. Wives respect your husbands. Paul does not say husbands respect your wives and wives love your husbands. It is just understood that if each is following the Lord’s commands which He has given them, each will receive the love and respect they deserve. (look back and yesterday’s blog and the point about the triangle)

APPLICATION

We know the word for “love” in this verse. It’s the Greek word of God’s love, agapao. But what is the Greek word for “respect”? It is phobeó, which means to fear, dread, show reverence to, to be afraid, or to be terrified. Now, context is the key. Look how this word is used in Matthew 1:20. This is the scene in which the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph about Mary. “But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’” Here, phobeó obviously means to not fear or be terrified.

In Luke 1:50 we see this word used again, but in a similar way it is used our verse today. This is Mary speaking during her Magnificat. “‘And His mercy is to generation after generation toward those who fear Him.’” We are not to be scared of God. Instead, we are to show Him reverence and respect. That’s how Paul is using this word in Ephesians 5:33.

Unfortunately, too many women do fear their husbands because of their brutality. God does not expect wives to have to deal with that. God’s plan for marriage works perfectly when both parties are following Him. If you are in an abusive marriage, seek help now. Don’t stay a victim of fear. If you are in a healthy marriage (notice I didn’t say perfect), do it God’s way. Let each of you show each other the love and respect God expects from you.

O God, thank You for showing us how to love well. Thank You for healthy marriages that model Christ’s love for the church.

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Advice, Betrayal, Bible, Denial, Foolishness, Judgment, Lies, Modeling, Obedience, Respect, Scripture, Surrender

NOSE THUMBER

HOSEA 10:3

“Certainly now they will say, ‘We have no king, for we do not revere the LORD. As for the king, what can he do for us?’”

I have known a few people who thumbed their nose at God. I had a coworker once who wanted nothing to do with God or me. I was the Chaplain at a children’s home, so I represented God to him. He really didn’t like me because of that. He was constantly speaking badly about our chapel services and ridiculed the decisions the children were making. He did not revere the Lord.

Israel did not revere the Lord. They had no respect for their king either. They had lost all their allegiance to anyone except themselves, and that was failing. So, they were also thumbing their noses at God. He wasn’t doing what they wanted, so they were done with Him. They wanted God to serve them, to meet all their needs. Anything less was useless to them.

APPLICATION

What is your view of God? You may expect God to meet all your needs when you want Him to. You may think the Lord is kind of like Santa Claus. And when He doesn’t “perform” you put Him aside. That is not the way God works. He is not on your timetable.

But, oh listen to me. God wants to work in your life. He has such grand plans for you and me. We have to lay down our plans and allow Him to work in and through us. We will never know the heights to which He can take us unless we lay down our own self made plans. Will you do that today?

I am still learning how to lay down my plans. I am a planner and there are times when I get tired of waiting on God. Don’t judge me. I am sure you have done that. But when I do wait on Him, His plan makes so much better sense. You would think I would have learned this by now. Keep me in your prayers, and I will pray for you, too.

Father, I don’t want to ever caste You aside. You are the center of all I do. I want to honor You.

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