R.E.S.P.E.C.T

By: Melissa Baker

Everyone wants to feel loved, appreciated and respected. Sometimes we forget the importance of not only respecting ourselves, but respecting others as well. The definition of respect is as follows:

Respect:

1: a relation or reference to a particular thing or situation
remarks having respect to an earlier plan

2: an act of giving particular attention : consideration

3 a: high or special regard : esteem

b: the quality or state of being esteemed
c: respects plural : expressions of high or special regard or deference
paid our respects

4: particular, detail
a good plan in some respects

The Bible mentions "respect" in multiple verses. So it must be important to God that we treat each other with respect. 

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

and respect the king.

1 Peter 2:17 NLT

Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father, and you must always observe my Sabbath days of rest. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:3 NLT

God commands that we love and respect each other. There is so much hate in this world and there is a lack of respect for human life in general. Everyone demands respect but yet no one is willing to give it. But my God says we MUST love and respect one another! 

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13:34-35

We are also commanded to respect our husbands and wives. Sometimes this can be extremely hard, especially if you have been hurt or have lost respect for your spouse. Regardless of what has happened in your marriage/relationship, we must strive to show respect to our loved ones. It's important to God, so it should be important to us. A marriage simply cannot survive without mutual respect. Wives are commanded to submit to their husbands. How many of you know, you cannot submit to someone whom you have no respect for! Submission is a form of respect, and we must do so in love.

For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:22 NLT

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

Ephesians 5:33 NLT

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.

Colossians 3:18

In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:7 NLT

I truly believe that we have a severe "respect for authority" problem in our world today, especially in the Unites States of America. Everyone is spewing hate left and right, especially when it comes to our president and our government. The Bible has something to say on this matter as well. 

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 

Romans 13:1

Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Romans 13:7

Respect has became a lost art. My hope and prayer is that we as human beings, learn to respect one another again, no matter how different we are or what political stance we take. We have to teach our kids to have a proper respect for authority and for all of mankind. And the best way to teach our kids to respect others, is to lead by example. So I encourage you, weather it be friends, family, spouses, or even those that God has put in authority, let's give respect where it is due.