Respect for God

The Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10). Another way of saying this is that the respect of God is the beginning of wisdom. If we respect God, we will be led into wisdom. God is about everything good. Goodness brings happiness. As Stanley Hauerwas said in his book, A Community of Character, “Any community and polity is known and should be judged by the kind of people it develops. The truest politics, therefore, is that concerned with the development of virtue." We can truly be a good person in a loving, respectful relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

People in the world express their disrespect for God in how they live, ignore and spurn God and use his name in vain, including the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. This is a major, disrespectful act and a rebellious way to live. The third of the Ten Commandments says, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).

It is incredibly disrespectful to God to use his name in vain, and it originates in the pit of hell. This is Satan’s approach to God, even though he knows he is the loser and he is an awful sore loser. He was defeated completely for mankind on the cross. We can be on the losing team or the winning team. Fortunately, God is patient and gracious, but one day we will all give an account of what we have done with the gift of redemption in Jesus Christ.

The second part of the scripture quoted in Proverbs says, “The knowledge of the Holy one brings insight.” Knowledge is important to know God. God has revealed himself in history and most completely in Jesus Christ, and this is recorded in the Bible. Want to know and respect God, read the Bible, and practice the principles of Jesus. Just practicing the principles of Christianity will lead to a path of wisdom and a better life, but just living Biblical principles will not bring you to heaven. There is so much more when you actually connect with God in the born-again experience that Jesus said was necessary. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). To see is to have insight. Then you will have knowledge of reality, which is truth.

To enter the kingdom of God, you must be born again, and then you will need to learn to live in that kingdom. This requires two things—knowledge and grace, and we must grow in both to live a beautiful life to the glory of God and to experience his fullness. It is the way of wisdom. Jesus' kingdom is now and available to all and is yet to come. Jesus came preaching, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Take time to get to know God in the scriptures and by the Holy Spirit.

Do you respect God? How is this shown? Do you keep the Lord’s Day holy? (Exodus 20:8-11) We are at the very least to reserve the Lord’s day for spiritual growth, meditation, worship, and living out a virtuous life. Our culture no longer respects God and the Lord’s day. We should set aside one day a week as a Sabbath to the Lord. God’s word says, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord” (Romans 14:5-6). Some people have to work on Sundays. Do you respect God’s word? Are you becoming and doing what Jesus said to be and do, or do you just listen but do not hear? This, of course, goes for me as well. Do you also respect yourself and others? Those who respect themselves walk in the way of God’s wisdom.

Respect God, and you will be open to wisdom and see reality as it is from God’s perspective, and learn to live in it with the King of the universe. Don’t be a loser like Satan, be a winner the Jesus way. We don’t win the world’s way but the Jesus way. Pick up your cross and follow him. (Luke 9:23) Voluntarily lay aside the priority of your will to do his will. Follow the way of God’s love. (1 Corinthians 13) His way is the way of true life and fullness.

As the Bible exhorts, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge” (2 Peter 1:5). The Bible also says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

God is very, very, very worthy of respect. Just consider the cross. God Himself took on flesh (John 1:1,14) and let his own creation nail him to the cross that, in God's predetermined plan, Jesus was to redeem those who receive him as Saviour and Lord from the power and penalty of sin, emptiness and hell. Turn to him who is worthy and walk with him in love. Jesus loves you. Do you love Jesus?