1 Peter 2:17
Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
This scripture passage contains four simple sentences… four basic concepts that seem so logical and easy to accomplish. If only we would take these four commands to heart and genuinely - and diligently - put them into action…any number of things could be accomplished. Life would surely be more peaceful and pleasant!
So why are we so disrespectful? Why can’t we get along? What keeps us from being obedient, reverent, and loving our neighbor? I don’t have all of the answers, but I suspect that one of our biggest problems is lack of focus. We have failed to remain diligent in pursuing a relationship with God… and when we do interact with Him, we tend to do all of the talking! It seems to me that more than a few of us don’t listen to God in the first place…and if we do hear Him, we choose to ignore what He tells us.
“Oh, surely God didn’t mean for me to treat So-and-So with dignity! Not after what he/she said or did to me!” you may say. Or maybe you have decided that people of a certain socio-economic status, lifestyle, race or political leaning are “beneath you.” Surely God didn’t mean for you to treat THEM with dignity?
Perhaps you have decided that certain “Christians” can’t possibly be sincere, because they don’t agree with you on social, political, or moral issues. “Surely they are not reading the Bible!” you’ve declared – if only to yourself. As for reverence to God, we all know that none of us does our best in this department!
And rather than respect our government and its leaders, many have decided that these folks are not Godly and do not deserve to be regarded with anything less than disdain. We don’t pray, “LORD, please help the best candidates get elected… and give them wisdom to decide what is best for us as a people.” We tell Him, “Please let MY candidate win!” And then we gripe and complain about everything from taxes to legislation to the leaders themselves.
Four simple rules could make everything run more smoothly – in our individual lives and in the world at large. Won’t you join me today in reviewing these guidelines? Won’t you pray over them and ask God to show you how and where you have failed to give your very best? Will this be the week that things begin to change in your relationships… in your perspective… and in your discipleship? Shouldn’t it?
My prayer for today is this… “Father, we have failed to show respect… for You and for each other. We have acted selfishly and judged unfairly. We have been critical and undignified, and we know that our actions and attitudes grieve You. Forgive us, LORD… help us to be more attentive to Your word and Your will. Show us how to treat others as You would… to offer love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and respect. Help us to figure out how to get along… heal our hearts and set us on the right path. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.”
©2013 Debbie Robus
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