Reverence

Reverence

People are mostly used to thinking that anything that is called fear1 is something bad; however, there is also a kind of fear that is good.

“Let the wife see that she shows reverence to her husband.” Eph. 5:33; Est. 1:20. “By which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Heb. 12:28. “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.” 1 Pet. 2:18. “Render . . . fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor [is due].” Rom. 13:7. “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” 1 Pet. 2:17. “In honor giving preference to one another.” Rom. 12:10. “That you also show respect to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.” 1 Cor. 16:16. “Nor did we seek honor from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.” 1 Thess. 2:6. “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor . . . .” 1 Tim. 5:17.

Seeking honor from men is neither good nor prudent; on the other hand, giving honor and showing respect according to God’s will and purpose is obviously both sound and good, for God does not make unsound decisions.

If this does not please you, dear soul, it is truly because your thoughts—in this respect—are foolish. Solomon says that there is madness in a man’s heart as long as he lives. It must truly be madness that a person wants to deny the honor to someone whom even God Himself, the Almighty and Omniscient One, wants to honor!!!

“If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” John 12:26. He gives honor to every person as He—according to the free counsel of His heart—thinks is appropriate. We must learn this—as well as everything else that is good—from Him who is meek and lowly of heart. Moreover, who and what manner of person are you who (influenced by the spirit of the times) does not like this? Well, I am going to tell you: Your eye is evil!!! There is still a remnant of evil left in your heart. Cleanse out this old leaven, and it will be easy and natural for you to respect and honor everyone as he should be respected and honored according to God’s Word.

“And hold such men in esteem.” Phil. 2:29. “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren . . . because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.” 1 Tim. 6:1-2. “Giving honor to the wife . . . as being heirs together of the grace of life . . . .” 1 Pet. 3:7.

Most people would of necessity agree that some people should be honored. Since this is not sufficient, God has wisely and thoughtfully made sure to include the “little” word “honor all men” in Peter. This word is able to make an end of our wickedness in this particular area by melting together with our heart.

People are strongly inclined to belittle and to despise their fellow men as well as their fellow brothers, those who—in their opinion—are valued very little or not at all and who are not to their liking. Thereby they mock (without wanting to) their Maker—He, who according to His preference and His judgment thought it good to create them and have them raised (for example) with a not so nice appearance, less intelligence, clumsiness at speaking, poor and not well cultured.

Seeing that we are to honor all men and in honor give preference to one another, esteem others better than ourselves and clothe ourselves with humility (Phil. 2:3; 1 Pet. 5:5), it has to be in truth and not pretense—otherwise it would be directly opposed to the divine nature, or in other words: God’s kingdom would be divided against itself.

Therefore: one has to find true and good reasons for this high esteem.

This is the secret!!! If we didn’t receive grace for it, then all our reverence would just be a sham—which is worse than nothing. The secret is very deep and difficult, but there is no limit to how great and powerful the grace is that God allocates to the humble. They are capable of attaining to the “unbelievable” and “impossible.”

The problem must be solved!!! Every one of us in particular must see to it that we can fulfill this divine law in harmony with the Scriptures!

Do you see your brother’s exalted state? Do you see the exalted state of all your brothers??? Are you able to calculate it? Do you give them true honor and praise from the depths of your heart, each and every one of them as is their due according to the Scriptures?

Then you truly deserve great honor yourself, and He who neither sleeps nor slumbers and does not neglect anything or anyone, He will also give you the full measure of it on that Day. Amen.