“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” -Deuteronomy 5:16

The above verse isn’t just for little children and teenagers, it applies to people of all ages and backgrounds. Honoring is a form of respect. Today we are yelling at our predecessors for being the reasons we aren’t happy, when in fact it is our own fault. We are blinded to the fact that we make our own happiness. Even if someone does something against you, you can find the good side of the situation.

We need to practice respect in our daily lives. It starts in the home, and we build ourselves on it so that we can function in society. If you didn’t at least act respectful to your boss, you’d surely be fired. Of course there may be some people whose ideas are against your own, but you should be able to respect the fact they are individuals.

God respects us by giving us the ability to choose what path we go down and what steps we take from there and how we take them. We forget to thank Him for that sometimes, which is disrespectful. Can you imagine disrespecting Him? It isn’t usually on purpose, but we disrespect God many times throughout the week. We’ll pass by someone struggling and not give a second glance. Is that right? They’re God’s children too, and we could have been that helping hand that God put in their path while they were suffering.

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”

-Proverbs 1:8-9

“Respecting your parents or guardians is the first step; and you can only grow from there. It comes in many different forms throughout our lives. Whether it be smiling back at the checker in line at the grocery when it is apparent they are having a bad day, to respecting the person who is against you in your beliefs and tells you God doesn’t exist. That is a huge smack in the face for Christians, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. “Respectfully” disagree if you find yourself in that situation even; but never let go and let anger or some other negative action or emotion get the best of you.”

And just a few final thoughts on this matter: if you give respect you can expect that some of it be returned. As long as you are respectful there is no need for someone to be disrespectful towards you. Of course, it comes along in life anyway but you are the better for not giving into that bad behavior. So keep in mind that respect is an essential part of functioning in society. As both a “regular” person, and a Christian.

There are many Christians who deny the calling of God because they are comfortable with being in their home and having all of their needs met on a daily basics. What if that one person hurting in another country could have been saved and set free because of you and what if you are holding them back from the plan of salvation? Isaiah 6:8 says: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” If you hear that voice of the Lord speaking and calling to you do not be afraid to go forth and answer yes. There is a reason why Jesus is calling you to serve him.

What if you don’t have enough money? When Jesus is calling you to serve him know that he will supply everything that you need. Sometimes it might not come right away and it might even come after the date, there are other times that you think you might need something but don’t. Trust Jesus to guide you and hold your hand while you are going out there to serve him.

When you are serving Jesus you don’t have to fly across the country to do it. You can start with doing things in your neighborhood. A lot of people are stressed these days for many reasons. Just because someone looks like they might have everything together does not mean that they do. Don’t be afraid to go up and tell them about Jesus if you feel that God is leading you to do so. Your words and testimony about Jesus could change them forever.

Do not judge a person based on the way they look. It’s easy to say that and a lot of people say they never do but when you see homeless out on the street with holes in their clothes or either a bunch of people together that look dirty with stains all over their shirts it can be easy to judge them. In Matthew 7:1-5 it makes it very clear that Christians should not judge others.  Matthew 7:1-5 ESV – “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Galatians 5:14 – For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” When you deny someone a chance to get a brotherly or sister hug in the Lord it could cause them to go further away from the Lord.

We are suppose to be a shinning example and a testimony to the world. Maybe you feel uncomfortable with giving a stranger a hug and that’s understandable. So instead of a hug, just try a simple handshake or a hello. The most important thing is they are seeing the light of Jesus inside of you and they know that you are not afraid of them. It could cause them to start weeping because they know that someone cares for them.  1 Corinthians 16:14- (ESV)”Let all that you do be done in love.” The other thing that can be very easy to do is become prideful from their reaction. That is why we must remain humble at all times and always do things in love. Once we start becoming boostful about our works you could cause yourself to fall and backslide. Give thanks to Jesus for helping you change someones life and ask Jesus to continue with helping you on a daily basics to be a light in the world that needs it.