Respect is hard to find these days. Parents are not teaching their children to respect their elders. In fact, speaking out criticisms is far more prevalent than I’ve ever seen in my nearly 70 years of life! What is actually being taught to children is that it’s OK to belittle the older generation. Children see their parents doing it and, therefore, they do the same. Each generation gets more disrespectful, and so on and so forth.
So how exactly does one learn to respect? It starts with respecting God and His ways. When I read today’s verse, I see clearly that a spiritually healthy person will read the Bible and think on it. After thinking about what he/she has just read, applying what was learned becomes key.
The Messiah of the Old Testament is the same Messiah of the New Testament. Jesus Christ IS the Messiah and there is only one way to get to Heaven and that is through Him. (John 14:6) He is the central figure of all the Scriptures. His precepts and His ways are what we should follow. Applying Jesus to this verse today opens up the meaning of the verse.
Strong’s Concordance defines respect in this verse as:
נָבַט nâbaṭ, naw-bat’; a primitive root; to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care:—(cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see.
Now let’s apply the definition intended for respect to our verse. I will meditate on Jesus and look intently at and regard with pleasure on Him. Oh my, what a blessing! Is that what we do when we meditate on Him and what He has done for us? Do we look upon Him intently with pleasure, favor and care? What a blessing!
In today’s unsettled world, we can remain without fear because we are concentrating on what must be fulfilled before the Millennial Kingdom can arrive. We know it is God’s plan and the Messiah, Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, is coming. Prior to His 7-year wrath upon the entire earth, He will come get His Bride! The Rapture of the Church is the next prophetic event. When we meditate on this precept, we receive the blessed hope which gives us peace and comfort!
Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!