In my opinion the word respect is another word that gets treated with much resistance and is regarded among the body of Christ as well as the world, much like the word “submission” is. It is an icky word to most because we, as a people have lost that heart of God for the act of respect. It is also another one of my beliefs that as people of God, we often times conform to the worlds way of doing things or handling situations according to the way the world handles them without even knowing it.

I believe that  this happens naturally because culture can easily be incorporated into our Christian worldview and take precedence in certain areas. Rather than us, the born again believer, renewing our mind in all areas we simply pick and choose where we’d like to do this and ultimately what areas of our life we’d like to honor God in. The funny thing about mixing God’s way of doing things with the worlds way of doing things is that this can be done unconsciously, subconsciously and consciously. The important part to note of all of this is that, this morphing of beliefs really does happen and is something that we, as born again believers, can possibly see nothing wrong with, because we have simply failed to renew our minds.

The biblical definition of respect is:

Respect (n)

a high or special regard; esteem

(see also Awe, Reverence)

Respect, Respected (v) to consider worthy of high regard, to esteem

High: (adj)

rising or extending upward a great distance : taller than average, usual, or expected

situated or passing above the normal level, surface, base of measurement, or elevation

Worthy: (adj)

having worth or value : ESTIMABLE 

HONORABLE, MERITORIOUS

having sufficient worth or importance

Esteem: (n)

the regard in which one is heldespecially : high regard

Esteem: (v)

to set a high value on : regard highly and prize accordingly

Honor: (n)

a showing of usually merited respect

one whose worth brings respect or fame

Wow! I don’t know about you, but these definitions convict my open heart, and they’re supposed to. I think convictions have become something that is also despised rather than something that is celebrated and taken into consideration and used for the encouragement of the application of the word of God.

Romans 8:1 NLT

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

We are no longer condemned, hallelujah! God has removed the pest of guilt from us so that we can freely accept our shortcomings and seek God as well as more of the presence of the Holy Spirit for our desired change.

To be honest, I believe that this is why we don’t heed conviction like we should anymore. We feel guilty about it because of our own self-condemnation, and because of this we avoid the conviction all together, which then makes it harder for us to change. God corrects those he loves. Conviction can be seen as correction and correction is a good thing.

Proverbs 3:12 NLT

For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

Hebrews 12:6-8 NLT

For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

Just as correction is a good thing so is submission, and so is respect. We may have a distorted or perverted view of these words but I believe that now more than ever is a perfect time to change that. What does God say about respect? What is his heart towards the act of respect? These are questions we can ask ourselves and most importantly, ask God.

I wanted to share my personal experience with this word.

So sometimes when I am preparing Eli’s meals in a rush, I am tempted or attempt to serve him in a little plastic container. Almost instantly God convicts me and says to me: “Would you want someone to serve you a snack in that bowl?” “Stop being lazy, he has bowls for this specific purpose.” “Would you serve someone you respected or someone whose perception of you, you valued like that?” My answer to these questions will always be “No.” Even though I know God is going to ask me these questions I still think about serving him in the incorrect bowl sometimes. I want to say that this is the reason I take such pride in plating Eli’s food. I believe that the point God is trying to get across to me is that; the way I treat or respect Eli will be the way he’ll treat and respect others. Not only will this be the way Eli treats others it will also be the way he treats hisself as well as shape the treatment that he will accept and expect from others. I have a huge responsibility in shaping his providential relationships in the future because by default, I am his very first providential relationship. Can we see how, we as humans can be messed up because of the relationships we’ve had in our past, starting from childhood? Can we also see how important respect is to God? He requires that we cultivate a culture of honor among one another. If this is his heart towards Eli, can you imagine how he expects us to treat one another?

This is why it is so important for a believer to renew their mind with the word of God.

Romans 12:2

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Ephesians 5:26

to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

The world views respect as something that is earned. Your position, title, name, hard work has earned respect, therefore I’ll respect you. These thoughts have found themselves among the body of Christ. I remember someone who was in a position over me telling me one time that respect is earned, they may of possibly used the wrong word but those words stuck with me and they weren’t necessarily biblical. Respect is given, favor is earned (Ref. Story of Cain and Abel, Genesis 4:1-16) and even this truth can be debatable in some areas because of the shed blood🩸of Jesus Christ. I would love to dabble more into favor being earned a little more in a future blog, but I’ll stop here for now in this one.

Here are some scriptures that reference respect in the Bible:

An example of showing respect for God –

Exodus 3:5-6 NLT

“Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

An example of commanding respect –

Judges 4:9 NLT

“Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.

An example of David’s great respect for Saul –

1 Samuel 24: 5-6 NLT

But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.”

2 Samuel 1: 15 – 16 NLT

Then David said to one of his men, “Kill him!” So the man thrust his sword into the Amalekite and killed him. “You have condemned yourself,” David said, “for you yourself confessed that you killed the Lord’s anointed one.”

An example of respect for those in authority over us –

1 Samuel 24:5-6 NLT

But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.”

1 Chronicles 10:11-12 NLT

These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

An example of showing respect to all people equally –

1 Samuel 30: 11-15 NLT

Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night. Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.” When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the Lord bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord’s command!” “Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded. “It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. We have destroyed everything else.”

Don’t confuse respectability with right living –

Luke 5:30-32 NLT

But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Read the life of Daniel as a study reference of the topic.

Places in the New Living Translation Version Bible that the word respect is mentioned:

(Proverbs 11:6 shows that there are levels to respect)

Proverbs 11:16 NLT

A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.

Malachi 1:6 NLT

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’

(I think it’s important to note that although an older man may not live this way (Titus 2:2), that this is not cause or grounds for us to be able to disrespect him. I pray that we grasp the heart of God through these scriptures and understand that disrespect in any form to another individual is not tolerated nor accepted by God. I’d also like to note that there is a difference between being offended and the act of disrespect which I can discuss in another blog.)

Titus 2:2 NLT

Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

Ephesians 5:33 NLT

So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

1 Timothy 3:4 NLT

He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.

1 Timothy 3:8 NLT

In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money.

1 Timothy 3:11 NLT

In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.

1 Timothy 5:17 NLT

Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.

1 Peter 2:17 NLT

Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.

May the body of Christ get back to the heart of David. Gosh! You are an example if we ever did see one. My God! I honor that mans legacy, his name and his heart for God! May we possess these things as we all are now spiritually, by faith from his seed! God, my plea is that this same spirit that was in Jesus and his lineage will be in us also! Lord have Your way!

Can I also note that David, too was a man of imperfections and major failures, but he was also a man of great repentance.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 NLT

“For the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.

Everything we need, all of the guidance, all of the instruction and all of the wisdom is in the word of God. We just have to put in the work.

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