Rev Gav

Respect

Luke 1:50

⁵⁰ He shows mercy from generation to generation
    to all who fear him.

Reflect

There is a strange saying in the Bible, and it is talked about as a good thing. It is when people have ‘the fear of the Lord’. But it does not mean fear as in being afraid. It is more like an awesome respect with a tiny bit of healthy fear mixed in for good measure. Well, in this Bible passage ‘veneration’ means pretty much the same thing. Mary was saying that down through the generations, when people have had an awesome respect for God, God has shown them his mercy — his love and his favour.

Having an awesome or esteemed respect for God is a good thing, but what does it look like in practice? You see, God is not just interested in the words we say, but is interested in our hearts. It is not simply enough to say, “Awesome God, you’re great!” The question is, do we have an esteemed respect for God in our hearts? And to find out we have to do some self examination.

Self examination is the process of looking at our own lives with reference to God. It means getting a right perspective — that God is God and we are human. It means realising that God is all-powerful, almighty and all-loving, and that we are not all-powerful, almighty or all-loving. When we have the balance right in our thoughts or hearts, then our words and actions come good.

In our relationship with God — which is a two-way thing — we venerate God. We humbly, respect, honour and praise God, and at the same time God shows us mercy, love, kindness and generosity.

Do

Today, spend a moment doing some self-examination. Reflect on the condition of your own heart. How can you venerate God?

Pray

Holy God
Help me get a right perspective
in my mind and my heart.
Help me grasp the awesomeness of who you are,
and the humility of who I am.
Let my words and actions give you
the respect and veneration that you are due.
This day and for ever.
Amen.

Think

What does it look like, in practice, to respect or venerate God?

How might there be a difference between respecting or venerating God individually (on your own) and corporately (as a church or group)?