Respect

Here’s a couple of food questions for you!

• As you think back to your youth, do you recall family mealtimes as positive? Contentious? Happy? Free-for-all? Uncomfortable because you didn’t like a lot that was served?
• When dining out, what makes you inclined to leave a generous tip? A not-so-generous tip?

These questions may generate some memories; some fond, some not! Some specific situations may come to mind, and you are welcome to share those in the comments section!

Many of the ways we interact with others (including some of those above) have to do with respect. Aretha Franklin taught us about R-E-S-P-E-C-T and human dignity in her 1967 hit song “Respect.” Some may feel that respect is a lost art. What situations come to mind for you that seem to call for respect? In this section of 1 Thessalonians 5, we are urged to regain that art! Paul gives examples but we can apply this more broadly.

Verses 12-13 - But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

If you struggle with showing respect, here’s a tougher situation:
Verse 14 - And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.

How do we genuinely approach a person, not as an enforcer, but in love and concern?
Verse 15 - See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.

And finally, Paul gives final encouragement and direction to his readers:
Verses 16-18 - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

How might our outlook on life be improved if we took Paul’s instruction to heart?

4832 Ponderings:

• Paul says to give thanks in all circumstances. How is that possible?
• If you are not thankful, does that make you unappreciative?
• Can we be respectful yet not really appreciative of our circumstances?

Closing Prayer
 Dear Lord, we join the whole earth as we shout for joy! We worship You with gladness as we come before You with joyful songs of praise and thanksgiving! God, we know that You made us, and we are Yours. We are the sheep of Your pasture. We thank You that we may enter into Your gates with thanksgiving, and Your courts with praise! We give You thanks and praise Your name. You are good, Your love endures forever. Your faithfulness continues through all generations, and for that we say, “thank you!”  Amen.  Adapted from Psalm 100:1-5

A successful author helped people consider and appreciate all the “awesome things” we experience in life:  Pasricha, Neil. The Book of Awesome. G.P. Putnam's Sons, an Imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2016