"...Proper respect"

1 Peter 2:17

“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”

Respect, for many decades now is something that has been escaping from our society like air from a life raft on the water.

Young people seldom show respect to their own parents let alone their elders that are around them. Not just young people but grown adults often have a hard time respecting each other this day and age.

I’m sure you’ll remember the event recorded in the Old Testament of Joseph of old. How one of the Officials that served the Pharaoh of ancient Egypt was a man named Potiphar. Joseph served under Potiphar. Now Potiphar was a smart man, and saw that the LORD was with Joseph and blessed everything Joseph set out to do. So Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household, and everything he owned. He trusted Joseph so much that he let Joseph take care of his house and EVERYTHING in it. Now when Potiphar’s wife tried to temp Joseph to do evil. Joseph refused her saying…  

“With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. ⁹ No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

Joseph had respect for his master. He honored his master…. Because he feared God.

I think one of the main reasons we have a lack of respect in our world today, is because “we have forgotten God.”

In the scripture reference the Apostle Peter (the Rock) tells us to “Show proper respect to everyone.” And we as human beings, as young and old people should ask ourselves the question …WHY should we show proper respect to everyone? 

We as believers in Christ have a profound answer to that question. A few verses back in 1 Peter 2 we see...

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴ or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. ¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

The God of heaven and earth desires that we (his special possession) lead by example, that we may “silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.” That they may know we are His disciples by of our Love.” 

Our Lord Jesus, when he was on this earth walking and talking, preaching and teaching, told us…

“¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

That “light” that Christ refers to… is HIM, living inside of us. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” For those of us who believe… We have the third person of the Trinity living inside of us. We are sealed with His Spirit.

So… “for the Lord’s sake” as Peter has stated “Live such good lives among the pagans” that even though they accuse you, and say all kinds of things behind your back to build themselves up, and to tear you down with their words… that when they see you doing good. Weather that is helping someone at work, or small acts of kindness, helping someone in your family. Or helping someone in need, or forgiving someone who has wronged you…whatever that good work is that the “holy spirit has prepared for you in advance to do”

…That you DO IT… and when they see you do it. They will see Christ in you, who desires Mercy more that Sacrifice. They will see Christ in you, who desires that “none should parish, but that All should come to repentance.”

So let the light of Christ that is in you, shine in your heart, so that it gives light to everyone in the room. Then “showing proper respect to everyone” will come naturally. And God will be praised!