Love without truth is always Ludicrous.

Truth without Love is always Disastrous.

Respect—giving attention, showing high/special regard,

granting a quality of esteem

 1 Peter 2:17, “Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.”

Respect Challenge:

#1 – Respect … those CLOSEST to you

• James 1:19, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
• Proverbs 17:27, “A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.”
• Proverbs 10:19, “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”

#2 – Respect … those WATCHING you

• James 1:23-24, “For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.”
• James 1:21, “So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.”
• James 1:27, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means … refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
• Philippians 2:15, “Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

#3 – Respect … those DIFFERENT than you

• James 2:1, “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?”
• 2 Corinthians 5:19, “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.”

Final Thought:

Your God has shown you the highest respect; and because of Jesus in you—now, you are to respect everyone.