“Show proper respect to everyone.”1 Peter 2:17 (NIV)
Respect has become an endangered value.
Yet the Bible makes it clear that stable families—and stable societies—are built around respect. The Bible commands us to honor our parents, respect civil authority, and respect church leaders. Wives are called to respect husbands in Ephesians. In the book of 1 Peter, husbands are called to respect wives. Just to make it clear that God leaves no one out, the Bible also says, “Show proper respect to everyone” (1 Peter 2:17 NIV).
Everyone, regardless of beliefs or behaviors, is worthy of respect.
Why?
God made everyone.Psalm 8:5 says, “You made them inferior only to yourself; you crowned them with glory and honor” (GNT). God doesn’t make junk. No one is worthless. People make wrong decisions, but they are still valuable to God. Even the most unlovable person in the world is loved by God. When you show someone respect, you show them their value as God’s creation.
Jesus died for everyone. The Bible says, “God paid a ransom to save you . . . he paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19 TLB). You may not place much value in certain people, but God does. In fact, he says every person you meet is worth dying for. Doesn’t that change the way you look at people?
It shows you know God. The Bible tells us that God is love. If you know God, then you’ll fill your life with love. The Bible says, “If a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God—for God is love” (1 John 4:8 TLB). Love always treats people with respect.
You’ll get back whatever you give out. It’s the law of the harvest. Whatever goes around comes around. If you want to be respected, then treat other people with respect. Galatians 6:7 says, “You will always harvest what you plant” (NLT).
By learning to love each other, we become “eager to show respect for one another” (Romans 12:10 GNT). You’ll more easily respect others when you recognize what God has done for them and try to love them more like he does.
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