R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Merriam-Webster defines respect this way:


 a feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, 
valuable, importnat, etc. or

a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way.

I suppose my primary characteristic prior to coming to know the Lord Jesus as my Savior was disrespect.  I recoiled and rejected any notion that someone should be able to tell me what to do and I tried, even in the tiniest and most subtle ways, to rebel against authority.

I think it is true that our respect for God's authority can be directly measured by our respect for those He has placed in authority over us.  Not only those in authority over us, but everyone we meet deserves a measure of respect. We cannot begin to tell the world we love God if we do not have respect for others.

This does not mean that we agree with everyone in our path.  No, we cannot agree with what is in opposition to the character and nature of God, but there is no place for a disregard for others, regardless of their beliefs.

There is not a person on this planet who can not truly sing "Jesus Loves Me," for He loves everyone.  If our Lord loves everyone and desires everyone to come to know Him in spirit and truth, how much more should we as His children, show them respect and love?

"If a man say, I love God, 

and hateth his brother, he is a liar:

 for he that loveth not his brother 

whom he hath seen, 

how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" 

I John 4:20