Day 1: Respecting Others

Let’s be honest, respecting others can be difficult. They might have a differing opinion than you, maybe they have done something to hurt you in the past, or maybe honestly you just don’t think they deserve your respect.
Not wanting to show certain people respect is a normal human feeling, but it is not the attitude that God wants us to have. God made us all in His image and even people that we find it hard to get along with are made in the image of God! So you may be wondering, “How can I show respect to those I don’t want to?” and that is a great question! A big part of showing respect to others is looking at them the way Jesus looks at them (or the way He looks at you!). He sees us as a child (1 John 3:1), a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), chosen, beloved (Colossians 3:12), and His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). When we see others for who God says they are, it becomes a little easier to respect and love them, despite their flaws.

Read: 1 Peter 2:17, and Romans 12:10
Q: What does respect mean to you?

Q: What is the difference between love and respect? How are they correlated and how are they different from one another?

Q: Why do you think respect is such a difficult thing to live out?

Q: Why do you think God wants us to respect others?

Pray: Ask God to show you someone in your life who you could be better at respecting. Take some time to just pray for that person, and pray for God to help you love, respect, and honor that person.