Disrespect

​Meditation
Luke 23:35-37—The people stood watching, and even the leaders kept scoffing: “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”  The soldiers also mocked Him.  They came offering Him sour wind and said, “If you are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”
 

Can you imagine what it will be like as religious leaders and soldiers to stand before God on that great judgment day and hear replayed their mocking and insulting words to Jesus as He hung on the cross?!  Those words that they spat beneath God’s Son from a superiorposition on earth will haunt them for eternity in hell—unless they repented and came to faith.  

It may seem like disrespect is an uncommon scourge on our society today but, in truth, it has afflicted every generation in various and insidious ways. David Jeremiah cites in his book Searching for Heaven on Earth,anEgyptian inscription from six thousand years ago: “We live in a decadent age.  Young people no longer respect their parents. They are rude and impatient.  They inhabit taverns and have no self-control.”

Disrespect is a cancerous form of pride.  This insolence comes from a heart that says, “I’m better than you.”  If one of my children or grandchildren speak rudely to my wife, my ire quickly rises. I won’t tolerate disrespect in my house. My parents taught me this growing up—as we were swiftly disciplined if we were disrespectful. 

May God rebuke us when we think it is okay: to degrade someone; to smoothly dispense condescending words; to spew hurtful comments from some distorted sense that we have the right to be mean; and, to criticize others because they are overweight, slovenly dressed, or somehow lacking in our sight.  Disrespect flows from a discontented heart.  You don’t see joyful, God-fearing people act disrespectfully.  This is because they know that it is only by God’s grace that they have favor, hope, and a healthy understanding of what it means to be loved and therefore to be able to love.

Are you unusually critical of others?  Stop it!  Don’t let the enemy load your ammunition with self-justifying reasons to belittle. Consider Isaiah’s description of Jesus. “He will not cry out or shout or make His voice heard in the streets.  He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick; He will faithfully bring justice” (Isa. 42:2,3). There is our example. See how the King treats us, a fallen, evil-infested humanity. Why?  Because His love sees past our shortcomings, forgives us and offers us a pathway via faith to be forever changed from imperfect to perfect! Something to think about . . . in reveration! 
 
Inspiration
Respect for others is the first social skill one must develop.—Patrick J. Sweeney, Sean T. Hannah and Don M. Snider “The Domain of the Human Spirit inThe Warrior’s Character
 
©2017 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)