To the youth readers: Though I am 13-years-old, I know the importance of being respectful to everyone, including my elders and especially my parents. It’s okay to disagree and express the basic forms of respect, which starts at home. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will never depart.” Proverbs 22:6.
We are distinctly instructed in the word of God to submit to authority. “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves.” Romans 13:1-2
I understand, unquestionably, that there are times when we’re doing everything to show respect, and we’re not respected in the same way. Remember respect is considered a biblical principle that I’m sure you have all noticed is becoming increasingly invisible in our society today.
We have to continue to show respect to others regardless of how we perceive them to be, we are all God’s creations, and it is God’s will for us to show respect to one another. Again, as I read the word of God to get my information to share with you, everything I need to encourage me is in the word of God and perfectly states in Matthew 7:12, “So in everything do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets.”
What I’ve realized thus far is that I am rewarded because of the way I carry myself, being mindful of what I say to someone and in return, receiving the same amount of respect. All through the Word of God, we are undoubtedly given instructions how to treat each other as it’s stated in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
The reason I am sharing specific scriptures with you is because you might not always have access to a Bible or you might not even have your own. Should you have a copy of the L.A. Sentinel, you’ll have the Book and the verses of scriptures written out for you so it would be readily available and you can apply the word of God to your immediate situation.
More often than not, we prefer to make an excuse as to why we couldn’t do something without making an effort to find a solution. When I’m looking up a scripture, it’s exciting because I get to rediscover for myself some of the stories and scriptures that my mom read to me when I was younger. Now, I’m reading said scriptures for myself and it doesn’t seem foreign to me.
One of my favorite stories that I enjoyed reading was Joshua 6:1-27 when the walls of Jericho fell after Joshua’s Israelite army marched around the city blowing their trumpets. I especially like the stories in the book of Joshua, not because my name is Joshua, but because Joshua was a remarkable and trusted leader!
I wanted to share this story with you all. Respect is in your name. When I was five-years-old and in the 1st grade, I remembered that in the word of God, there was a Joshua who was a leader. I wanted to be a leader like Joshua in the Bible.
I recalled my mom being told that I was being disrespectful because I didn’t respond to being called ‘Josh,’ which was not my name. I did not go to the back of the line when we were lining up to exit the classroom because I was a leader like Joshua in the Bible. The teacher didn’t have the same respect I had for my name. She laughed, and said she understood. I believe in applying the word of God to every aspect of your life as it states in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee…”
Most of us find it extremely difficult to turn the other cheek when we are being disrespected, especially when it’s someone in position. Again, I refer you to the word of God cited earlier in this commentary, which is in Romans 13:1-2. Being respectful is in the word; this is something we cannot make up.
Yes, even at my young age, I presume that I am an eminent force of change which I have used to recognize differences, accept change, embrace diversities, lead with love and serve with a purpose. I, too, have had to deal with life’s unforgiving challenges, as it relates to being disrespected. I found that being respectful at all times is paramount and is certainly more rewarding than being disrespectful.
As we rely on the word of God, we have all been exposed to the same loving instructions at one time or another all throughout the Bible on how to apply the word to our daily lives in a respectful manner.
In John 13:34-35, it reads, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
To my young readers, I do understand how important respect and being respected is to you. I would like to persuade you all to respect each other, your elders and especially your parents.
I leave you with Thessalonians 5:12-13, “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.” Amen!
