Who is our God? He is the creator of the universe. He is king of the universe. He is almighty. He is all knowing. He is holy. He is righteous. He is certainly worthy of our respect. In Revelation chapter 4, John was taken up into heaven and describes what he saw. “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.’” This is who God is; He is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power because of who He is. He is worthy of our respect.
We can respect God by giving him reverence and awe for His holiness. Just as the creatures and the elders in John’s vision in the Revelation praised and worshipped Him, we too can praise and worship God. 1 Peter 2:5 “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” We should fear our God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). This “fear” isn’t terror, but a deep reverence and recognition of God’s greatness and holiness. But we can disrespect God by not believing in Him and His creation and instead crediting “mother nature” or “evolution” for everything that now exists. Those who worship the creation or worship things in their life disrespect God. We disrespect God by having no fear or reference for Him or not believing in Him.
We can respect God by obeying Him. Obedience is a sign of respect. God is a righteous God and He expects us to live righteously also. When we understand what is right in His sight and decide to conform our lives to His will, we demonstrate that we respect Him as our Lord and God. Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.” Keeping God’s commandments shows respect for God and that He has the right to tell us how we should live. Jesus said in Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” When we chose to not do what God wants, we disrespect God. We disrespect God when we decide that it is more important to follow our fleshly desires rather than to yield to His will.
We respect God when we acknowledge Him as the source of everything that we have. We are blessed with many blessings from God. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” We respect God when we acknowledge the gifts that He gives us. God even supplies our abilities. 1 Peter 4:10 “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” We respect God when we acknowledge that everything we have comes from Him. We disrespect God when we take the credit for our success and our possessions and think that we don’t need God.
We respect God when we humble ourselves before Him. We respect that He is righteous and we admit that we fall very short of His holiness. James 4:6 “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” We respect God when we confess our sins and humbly ask for His forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We disrespect God when we are proud and don’t admit our faults. We disrespect God when we exalt ourselves.
We respect God when we give Him our time. This may be time in studying the Bible, meditating on His word, or praying to Him. We disrespect God with we don’t have time for Him. We disrespect Him when everything seems more important than giving time to God and to His word.
We respect God when we seek His leading in our lives. He knows what is best for us. He knows the paths that we should take. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” We disrespect God when we make all the decisions without Him. Jerimiah 10:23 “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”
I encourage you to appreciate the God that we have. He is great, He is mighty and He is holy. He is so gracious to us. He is worthy of our respect and adoration. I encourage you to respect and worship your God in all areas of your life.