The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 18 November 2019 – Learn To Be Respectful
Click HERE to Read Previous MESSAGES
TOPIC: Learn To Be Respectful
READ: 1 Timothy 6:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.
2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,
4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
THE MESSAGE:
Among the virtues going down the drain in our contemporary times are respect and honour for elderly ones. No wonder, Paul often, in his letters advocated vertical respect, such as respect from children to parents, followers to leaders, junior officers to senior ones, students to teachers, servants to masters, and the like. Apart from the aforementioned, loyalty and commitment to service are expected from anyone who is under authority. Verse 1 does not limit our respect and honour to fellow believers alone, we are equally duty bound to honour unbelieving masters or parents while we continue to pray for their salvation. When we do that, the name of God and His teaching will not be blasphemed. In verse 2, Paul admonished that we should not take the grace of salvation as a means to crossing our boundaries. Hence, the fact that we refer to ourselves as brothers and sisters is not a license for disrespect.
Beloved, you do not represent God well when you are disrespectful, and your spirituality will not only be doubted but will also be mocked by those who should have seen you as a model for godly virtues. That you have an ungodly parent or boss should not make you spiritually arrogant that you treat them with contempt. Some ungodly parents and bosses have remained in darkness till today because the light that those who come in contact with them claim to have does not reflect the humility of Christ. The best people that should accord respect to others, especially the elderly, are those who are Christ-like. Are you one of them?
PRAYER: Father, fill my life with the spirit of humility so as to give honour to whom honour is due in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
