Respect. Simple Respect

Genesis 1:27 God created humans in his own image. He created them to be like himself. He created them male and female.

None of us likes to be treated like a doormat. None of us likes to be taken for granted. We all want to be respected.

I’ve trawled through various dictionaries trying to find a good definition of “respect” but you know … I just can’t find one. I get things like:

A feeling of admiration for someone and their abilities.
To have due regard for someone’s feelings, wishes or rights.

Yeah … that’s it in part, I guess. But there’s something that goes much deeper than that. Respect is something that we should show whether a person is talented or not. Whether they’re good to us or not. Whether they can do anything for us or not. Why?

God created humans in his own image. He created them to be like himself. He created them male and female. (Genesis 1:27)

I think respect is looking at a person and seeing them as someone who’s been made in God’s image; fearfully and wonderfully made by the very same God who created you and me.

Okay, there are some people in your life that you don’t respect. Maybe they’re lazy, or they don’t respect you so you decide to return the favour. Or maybe, sad but true, you look down on them for whatever reason – socio-economic status, lack of education … they just don’t meet up to your standards.

In fact, let’s talk about those people for a moment. That beggar on the street corner, with the bottle of alcohol next to him wrapped in a brown paper bag, as though the rest of us won’t notice.

Fact: that guy right there, is made in the image of God. When God looks at him, what He sees, is His own image reflected back at Him, in the same way that we see our image in our own children. Now that guy’s probably lost all sense of being created in God’s image. He’s probably lost all sense of self-worth.

But here’s the kicker: when you and I show him some respect, it gives God something to work with. When you and I show him some respect, it creates a spark of dignity in his soul. When you and I show him some respect, God may just use that to lift that beggar up out of the hole he’s in.

Respect, simple respect.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.

‹ Previous Next ›

Blessed by this devotion?

Share it with a friend!

Respect. Simple Respect

Blessed by this devotion?

Dig Deeper

Respond