RESPECT FOR GOD

“When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord; yet they have come out of His land.’  But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went” (Ezekiel 36:20-21)

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7).\ )

Turn on your TV, pick up a book, listen to your neighbor or the radio, and you will hear the name of the Lord used as a curse word or simply as an exclamation.  Most people throughout the world believe that the United States is a “Christian” nation.  The non-Christian world considers “Christianity” a religion of hypocrites.  Our past government leaders and our TV shows that are viewed all around the world demonstrate that “Christians” are disrespectful of the Lord and His Words.  Unfortunately, we are being judged collectively as having no respect for God by the non-Christian world.

While most Christians do not use the names of God and Jesus the way so many others do, most of us have accepted that those words in the media and in everyday life. The more we expose ourselves to this use of the Lord’s name, the more it can become a part of our mindset, and the more our hearts become hardened to the point where we don’t care.  Think about it.  Does it bother you to hear our Lord’s name used with no respect?

So how do we deal with it?  Do we form censorship committees?  Do we aggressively confront our friends, co-workers, classmates, and strangers?  I believe that we can do more harm by confronting people, especially in an aggressive manner.  What do we do?  What can we do?

First, we must set an example in our speech and our lives.  In other words, put my own house in order. “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation” ( I Peter 2:12).

I learned a valuable lesson years ago: “I am the only person that I have control of.”  So I must work on showing my respect to God and be an example to others.  As a Christian, I should have surrendered my control of myself to the Lord.  Because I have surrendered my life, it becomes necessary that I watch what I say and do. “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5).

So I should be an example in my behavior.  What else can I do to influence others to stop their disrespect of God?  The second thing is to introduce them to Jesus.  After all, I have a relationship with the Father through Jesus, and my life has been changed by that relationship.  So if I want others to change their behavior and language, then I need to share my Lord with them.  We are told that we are ambassadors for Christ.  As such we beg others on the behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God (II Corinthians 5:20).

We must accept the fact that real changes to society can happen only when people turn to God.  So, fellow ambassadors, we need to be about our Father’s business.

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Awesome God, Creator of everything,  At times we fail to show proper respect towards You as our Father and our God and our Maker.  Forgive us.  Help us be examples in love to those around us that through our behavior they will come to respect You.
  In the name of Jesus, amen.            ~ Ed

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Ed Wittlif ~ Denver, Colorado                                 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)