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 Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 10:17 am
The Incredible Shrinking Caterpillar Bible Reading: Proverbs 25:26-28 ANNIE DILLARD, IN her book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, talks about a strange habit some caterpillars have. Now caterpillars do something called "molting". They shed the hard shell-like skin that covers their heads and bodies. After molting, their bodies immediately get bigger, and they grow another outer skin. As they continue to eat and grow, they'll continue to shed their skin as many as twelve times-sometimes even more. Sometimes, though, when a caterpillar doesn't get enough food, it will go into a "molting frenzy." It begins molting over and over again, changing its skin many times, getting smaller and smaller with every change. This process, say Dillard, "could, in imagination, extend to infinity, as the creature frantically shrinks and shrinks and shrinks to the size of a molecule, then an electron, but never can shrink to absolute nothing and end its terrible hunger." That doesn't happen, of course. Eventually, the caterpillar stops molting and dies. That "incredible shrinking caterpillar" is a perfect picture of what can happen without self-control. Caterpillars have to molt. In fact, molting is a good thing for a caterpillar. But when the process gets out of control, it can destroy the little creature. That's what a lack of self-control can do to people, too. A lack of self-control can turn harmless (even healthy) things into harmful things. For example, you need food in order to stay healthy. But if you cnstantly eat too much food, it can be harmful. Or, to use another example, exercise is a good thing. Your body needs exercise. But if your desire to be healthy, strong, and thin get out of control, you can actually hurt yourself with exercise and dieting. The Bible puts it like this: "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." (Proverbs 25:28 ). God desires for us to be self-controlled because he knows that it can make us healthier and happier, safer and stronger. Because he loves us, his commands to "be self-controlled" (1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8 ) are intended to help us live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life. Reflect:*Do you ever feel like an "incredible shrinking caterpillar"? *Do you ever feel like something in your life is out of control? *If so, do you ever talk to somebody about it? *Why or why not? *Do you think it would help to talk to somebody when you feel that way? *Do you think it would help to talk to God? to your parents? to a friend? to a pastor? *If so, why not make plans to do so?
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 10:14 am
Road to Respect Bible Reading: Titus 2:11-14 WHICH CHARACTER DO you respect and admire more: Pinky or the Brain? Ren or Stimpy? Roadrunner or Wile E. Coyote? That's kind of a dumb question, isn't it? After all, they're just cartoon characters. Who ever thought of respecting or admiring cartoon characters? OK, then, think about these questions instead: Which person do you respect and admire more:
* someone who shrugs it off when another kid bumps into him or her in the school hallway?
*someon who starts yelling and screaming, threatening to call the police, the state highway patrol, and the FBI when another kid bumps into him or her in the school hallway?
Which kind of person do you respect and admire more:
*a person who begins crying uncontrollably (and sucking his or her thumb) when he or she gets a C on a test?
*a person who calmly asks the teacher how to do better next time?
Which kid do you respect and admire more:
*the kid who says, "No thanks, I don't drink," when he's offered a can of beer?
*the kid who takes the beer when it's offered and keeps drinking until he's sloppy drunk and silly? How did you answer those questions? In each case, you probably said you would respect and admire the person who displayed self-control, right? That's only natural. After all, self-control tends to win the esteem and respect of others. People who don't have self-control may sometimes be accepted, feared, or even liked- but they are seldom respected and admired. That's why God wants us to be self-controlled. He knows what we sometimes forget: Self-control wins the respect and admiration of others. Reflect:*Can you think of situations when someone earned your respect by displaying self-control? *Can you think of a time when you earned someone else's respect by displaying self-control? *Do you think God can produce more self-control in you and in your life? If not why not? If so, how?
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:18 am
Hand and Glove Bible Reading: Romans 8:5-14 A GLOVE IS a wonderful thing. You've probably never thought much about it, but a glove can perform all kinds of tasks. It can turn a doorknob or roll down a car window. It can wave good-bye to a friend or applaud a dazzling football play. It can pat someone on the back or smack someone in the face. It can point. It can give a "thumbs up" sign. "Wait a minute," you say. "Time out! A glove can't do all that; it's the hand inside the glove that does all those things." Well, yes. And that's the point. A glove can only perform a task if there's a hand inside it. Otherwise, all it can do is lie there motionless. That's because the ability the glove possesses comes from whatever fills the glove.It is exactly the same with you. You may really, really want to be more self-controlled. You may want to control your anger, your appetite, your desires, or your fears. But no matter how badly you want self-control, you can't make it happen. Oh, you may improve a little bit, for a while. But no matter how hard you try, you won't develop true self-control by yourself. Because self-control, like all virtues, comes from God. In other words, your ability to exercise self-control depends on whatever-or whoever-fills you. "That's why," the Bible says, "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:8-9). So if you are a Christian, the power to be self-controlled is already living in you-the Holy Spirit. The key, then, is not to grunt and groan and grit your teeth but to surrender to the Spirit's control day by day and moment by moment-just like a glove "surrenders" to the hand that wears it and controls it. Reflect:*You already have God's Spirit living in you if you've received forgiveness of your sins and trusted Jesus for salvation. *Have you done that? If not, you can do it simply ask a friend that you know is a Christian and ask them to show you from the Bible how can you be save, or ask your parents or your pastor.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:37 pm
Thats a very interesting devotion there Misty, but also true..Well I know the Lord as my personal Saviour and I know that I still have a lot to learn, which I have to say this here guild is a blessing its been helping me grow spiritually and I want to thnk you and Red_Ronin for starting this here guild xd
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The Vampire Named Mathias
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 9:33 am
Sales Pitch Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:10-16 YOU'RE MINDING YOUR own business, walking around the mall, when all of a sudden a greasy-haired man in a long coat comes up to you. "Psst!" he hisses. "Want a great deal?" You try to ignore him and walk by, but he steps in front of you and opens one side of his coat. "I got over seventeen varieties of broken watches here," he says, smiling and wagging his eyebrows. You look at the watches. "Did you say broken watches?" you ask. You see him nod. "Why would I want a broken watch? I want a watch that keeps time!" You start to step around him, but he quickly shuffles to block your way. "Wait a minute," he says, looking around as if he's letting you in on an even bigger secret than broken watches. "That's not all I've got." He pulls an envelope out of his pocket and shakes an assortment of postage stamps into his open palm. "I got canceled stamps, too. All kinds!" He shows you the stamps. You think. This dude's elevator doesn't go to the top floor."Look," you say patiently, "I'm not interested in broken watches or canceled stamps, OK? What your're selling is worthless. So if you'll excuse me......" You walk around him, and as you walk away, you notice him approaching somebody new. That would be a pretty weird experience, wouldn't it? But it's actually pretty common. Oh, you may not meet a guy selling broken watches in the mall, but every day the devil tries to sell you something worthless. He tries to convince you to lie, steal, cheat, or do other things that are even more worthless than broken watches or canceled stamps. Of course, the devil makes those things look attractive. But no matter how much you shine up a broken watch. It's still broken. And the deeds of evil and darkness my look like they'll bring you fun and fulfillment, but in the end you'll discover-over and over again-that nothing good ever comes of sin. It's always worthless. So the next time the devil tries to sell you something worthless, remember to "take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them." And "be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise." (See Ephesians 5:11, 15). Reflect:*Can you think of a time when a wrong choice paid off and made you a better person? *Can you think of a time when a wrong choice brought you closer to God? *Can you think of a time when a wrong choice made you feel good about yourself? *What will you plan to do the next time the devil tries to sell you something worthless?
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:22 am
Right and Wrong in 3-D Bible Reading: Psalm 119:129-133 HAVE YOU EVER seen a 3-D picture or -better yet- a 3-D movie? You know that you put on a pair of glasses with plastic or paper frames to watch a 3-d movie. Watching the movie through the glasses makes the movie screen seem three-dimensional, like real life. Not only that, sometimes things seem to "leap out" of the movie screen, right for your face! A train may race across the screen and seven as though it's coming right out of the movie-and into your lap! A bird may be flying around, when suddenly it turns and seems to head straight for your nose! A ball my be thrown by someone in the movie, and it looks as though all you have to do is hold your hands up to catch it! If you take the 3-D glasses off, of course, all you see is a flat-even slightly blurry-movie screen. The glasses bring the action alive. Without them, you lose the whole effect. That's sort of how reading God's Word works for those who want to know right from wrong. Reading the Bible brings the action to life. That's because the Bible acts as a pair of 3-D glasses that make it easier to see and to know right from wrong. If you read the Bible every day, you'll soon start to see things much more clearly than you would otherwise. If you don't read the Bible regularly, you'll probably still struggle to figure out right from wrong. That's why the psalmist prayed to God, "Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple......Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. (Psalm 119:129-130, 133). If you really want to know right from wrong-if you really want to make right choices-read the Bible. It brings the real action to life. Reflect:*Do you think you can make right choices consistently without knowing what's right? Why or why not? *Do you think you can know what's right without knowing what the Bible says about right and wrong? Why or why not? *Do you think reading the Bible can help you make right choices? If not, why not? If so, how?
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:05 am
The Vision Bible Reading: Colossians 3:12-13 A STORY IS told of a womand who went to her priest. "I keep having this vision," she said. "But I don't know whether it's real or not. I don't know whether to believe it or to have my head examined." "Tell me about it," the priest suggested. "Well, in this vision," the woman explained, "Jesus appears to me, just as real as you are right now. And he speaks to me, just like you're speaking to me. He tells me things." "What things?" the priest asked, his brow wrinkling. "He tells me that he loves me," she answered. "He tells me that he hears my prayers and that he loves it when I spend time with him." "I see," the priest said. "Is there any way to know whether my visions are real?" the woman asked. "I'll tell you what," the priest answered, "The next time our Lord appears to you in a vision, ask him to tell you what sins I confessed to him that morning. Then when he tells you, come to see me, and we will know whether it is really the Lord." The woman agreed to the plan and returned to her home. The very next morning she appeared on the priest's doorstep. The priest seemed surprised to see her. "So," he said, "did you ask our Lord what sins I confessed to him this morning?" The woman bowed her head and nodded. "And what did he say?" The woman raised her eyes to look at the priest. "He said, "I have forgotten!" The priest laid a hand on the woman's shoulder and smiled. "It is the Lord!" he said. That story may or may not be true. But the point of the story is true: Jesus forgives us so completely that, although he knows everything, he forgets our sins once he has forgiven them! And he says that is how we ought to forgive each other. The Bible says, "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. We know that forgiveness is right not only because God commands us to forgive but also because God has forgiven us. So we should forgive each other-quickly and completely. Reflect:*Why is it right to forgive others? *According to today's Bible reading, how should we forgive others? *Is there anyone you need to forgive today? *If so, why not do it now? *Is there anyone you need to ask for forgiveness? *If so, why not do it now?
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:42 am
The New Kid in School Bible Reading: Ecclesaiastes 12:1, 13-14 "HEY," YOUR BEST friend calls to you. "I want you to meet somebody." When you walk over, he says, "This is Jay Hovah. He's new in school." He nods to the person standing beside him. You smile and nod at the new kid. "How ya doing?" you say. The new kid nods back. Your friend slaps the new kid on the back. "You should see what this guy can do. He can do five hundred sit-ups-without stopping!" "Five hundred sit-ups?" you respond. Jay shrugs as if it's no big deal. "And," your friend continues, "he can bench-press three hundred pounds!" "Get outta here!" you answer. Jay just smiles and shrugs again. You start to pay less attention to your friend and more attention to this Jay guy. "He can jump over seven feet in the air from a standing position." "Oh, come on," you say, "I don't believe tha-" Suddenly the new kid leaps straight up in the air and over your head, landing behind you. You turn around and look at him with undisguised respect. Your friend leans over and whispers in your ear. "Did I mention he can also control the forces of nature and make dead people come to life?" Well, of course, that would have been a dead giveaway, right? Only one person could do all those things. The new student at school would have to be God! That probably won't happen, though. But imagine if you did meet a "new kid" who could do all those things. How would you respond? You'd probably really respect and admire that kid, wouldn't you? After all, anyone who can do five hundred sit-ups and bench-press three hundred pounds is pretty impressive, right? Well, if that's true, God is much more worthy of your respect. He not only can do all those things but also can control the forces of nature and make dead people come back to life. He can create something out of nothing. He can heal diseases. He can answer prayer. He can destroy nations and create entire solar systems. But more important, he created you. And, if you're a Christian, he saved you from the punishment your sins deserved. And he is preparing you to live forever in eternity. For those and many, many other reasons, God deserves your respect. That's why it's right to respect God. In fact, respect for God is the basis of all respect-and of all righteousness. As King Solomon once said, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Eccelesiates 12:13). Reflect:*Do you think God deserves your respect? * Why or why not? *Do you respect God? *If a private investigator was looking for evidence that you respect God, what evidence would he or she find? *How can you show respect for God today?
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 9:57 am
Jesus in Jeopardy Bible Reading: Luke 2: 41-52 DO YOU THINK Jesus ever got into trouble with his parents? Yup, he sure did. Today's Bible reading (Luke 2: 41-52) is a recorded example of how Jesus got into "hot water" with his parents when he was twelve years old. Did Jesus ever disobey his parents? No, because the Bible says Jesus never did wrong (1Peter 2:22), and it would have been wrong for him to disobey his parents. Do you think it was easy for Jesus to obey his parents? After all, think about it. Jesus was God! The whole universe had been formed by him (Colossians 1:16). He commanded heaven's angels (Matthew 13:41; 16:27). And he apparently knew, at a very early age, that he had been sent by his Father to do something special (see Luke 2:49). It might have been hard at times for the Lord of the universe to submit to everything his carpenter dad and peasant mom said. Yet, according to the Bible, that's exactly what Jesus did. He always treated his parents with loving obedience and respect (Luke 2:51; John 19:26-27). That's one of the ways you can know that respect for your parents is right. Of course, it shouldn't be hard to figure out, because the Bible says pretty clearly, "Honor your father and mother" (Exodus 20:21) and "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." (Ephesians 6:1). But respect for your parents is not only right because God commands it, it's right because Jesus respected his parents. Being respectful is being like God himself. It's pretty safe to say that you'll still get into trouble with your parents from time to time; even Jesus did! But make it your goal to obey and respect your parents like Jesus did. That will certainly please God - and might just amaze your parents! Reflect:*Is it right to show respect for your parents? Why or why not? *Do you think it was hard for Jesus to obey and respect his parents? Why or why not? *Do you think it's hard for you to obey and respect your parents? Why or why not? *Do you show respect for your parents? If not, why not? If so, how?
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Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 1:50 pm
Take a Bow Bible Reading: 1Timothy 5:1-2 WHEN YOU SEE a friend, you might wave and say "Hi." Or you might exchange high fives or low fives with a friend or group of friends. If you're meeting someone for the first time, you might shake that person's hand. If you're greeting your grandmother or your Aunt Zelda, you might even exchange hugs. In Japan, however, people usually greet each other differently. Maybe you've seen several Japanese people meet and greet each other They don't wave. They don't shake hands. They don't exchange high fives. They don't hug. They bow. Sometimes they bow once; sometimes they bow several times. Sometimes they bow slightly, and sometimes they bow deeply. How many times they bow ahow how deeply they bow depend on a lot of things. One of the things that determines how low and how many times a person bows is how much older the other person is. In the Japanese culture, an older person deserves more repect, and so a young man greeting an elderly man will show his respect by the way he bows. Now you don't have to start bowing to your parents or grandparents. But you could take a few hints from the Japanese. You see, many people in our world don't respect their elders. They think their parents and grandparents don't know anything. They think that only young, pretty people are worthwhile. They think elderly people aren't as smart or as important or as valuable as young people. But the Japanese don't think so. And neither does God. God commands all of us ( not just the Japanese!) to treat older people with respect. He says that we should show respect for him, "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:32). God's Word makes it clear that respect for our elders is right. It's right to treat older people respectfully. Paul told Timothy, "Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity." (1 Timothy 5:1-2). Because respect for your elders is right - even if you're not Japanese. Reflect:*Do you think it's right to show respect for your elders? If so, why? *Who are your elders? *How can you show respect for them?
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Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2005 4:10 pm
David and the Finkelsteins Bible Reading:Titus 3:1-8 ANN LANDERS HAS written a newspaper column giving advice and information for over forty years. During that time, readers have often written her to share interesting statements kids and others have made about the Bible, like those listed below: * "Noah's wife was Joan of Ark."
* "Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day and ball of fire by night."
* "Moses went to the top of Mount Cyanide to get the Ten Commandments."
* "Joshua led the Hebrews in the Battle of Geritol."
* "The people who followed Jesus were called the "Twelve Decibels."
* "The epistles were the wives of the apostles."
* "David fought the Finkelsteins, a race of people who lived in biblical times."
* "A Christian should have only one wife. This is called monotony." As you can see, each of those statements is sort of close to the truth. But each one is wrong because it's based on a misunderstanding. Moses got the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, not Mount Cyanide. Joshua fought the battle of Jericho. David fought the Philistines, not the Finkelsteins. Having only one wife is called monogamy. Those kids just got the wrong idea, that's all. And many of us have also gotten a wrong idea when it comes to respecting those who are in positions of authority over us. You see, a lot of us think that people in authority (police, teachers, presidents, church leaders, and so on) should earn our respect. When we get a new teacher, or pastor, or president, we tend to withhold our respect until he or she earns it, until he or she makes us respect him or her. But according to the Bible, we should do just the opposite. The Bible says that we should give respect and obedience to those who are in authority over us. They don't have to earn our respect - we owe it to them; they only have to lose it. There are times when Christians must protest or resist people in authority (see Acts 5:17-42). But unless obeying those authorities would mean disobeying God, God's Word is clear: Respecting and obeying those in authority is right. Reflect:In your mind or write it down on a piece of paper, list ways you can show respect for: * teachers * elders * police * government officials * pastors * others (specify)
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Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 8:42 am
Finger Snappers and Ear Wigglers Bible Reading: 1 Peter 2:12-17 CAN YOU SNAP your fingers? Can you wiggle your ears (without using your hands, of course)? Can you touch your nose with your tongue? If you can do wither of the last two, you're a member of a minority. A recent survey conducted in the United States discovered that 68 percent of people could snap their fingers, but only 13 percent were able to wiggle their ears. And an even smaller group - a mere 10 percent! - could touch their noses with their tongues. Now, imagine that all those people who could snap their fingers decided to ridicule and disrespect the other 32 percent. Or imagine that "ear wiggles" decided to treat "non-wigglers" like second-class citizens. Or imagine that those who could touch their noses with their tongues felt that they could never respect people who couldn't touch their noses with their tongues. That would be pretty weird, wouldn't it? But when you think about it, it's not so different from people who disrespect other people because they're a different color. It's not so different from men who don't respect women (or vice versa). It's not so different from people who look down on old people (or kids). You see, God's Word says, "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king." (1Peter 2:17). That means that even people who are different from you deserve your respect, whether they're black or white, Asian or Hispanic, male or female, young or old, rich or poor, finger snappers or ear wiggles. After all, God doesn't say, "Show proper respect to people who are like you." He says, "Honour all men." -even to people who can't touch their noses with their tongues. Reflect:Today's Bible reading says to fear or respect (or accept) several different kinds of people. *Can you find at least four? *Has anyone ever shown disrespect for you because of your skin color, sex, or age? *How about for some other reason? *How did it fee? *Have you ever shown disrespect to someone for any of those reasons?
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:45 pm
A Good Ga - hoo to You Bible Reading 1 John 3:1-2 BACK IN THE 1970s a singing group called the Staples Singers scored a hit with a song written by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice. More recently, the Christian group Big Tent Revival has recorded the song on their debut CD. The song is called "Respect Yourself," and it contains the message "If you don't respect yourself, / Ain't nobody gonna give a good ga - hoo!" Now, you may ask, "What is 'a good ga-hoo'?" Good question. Don't know. Don't even know what a bad ga-hoo would be. But that's not the point. The point is, the message of Ingram and Rice's song is a good one. It's even biblical. According to the Bible, respecting yourself is right. After all, the Bible says, "Behold, What manner fo love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.Those verses mention several good reasons for respecting yourself. First, in addition to being created by God, you are his child! Not only that, when Christ returns, you will be made like him in ways that will blow your mind! Now, that doesn't mean that you should forget that you're a sinner (like everyone else) or that you should become proud or think you're better than anyone else. It simply means that you should respect yourself, for two reasons: because of what you are and because of what you are becoming!So do what songwriters Ingram and Rice say: Respect yourself. But don't do it just because they say so; do it because God's Word says that respect for yourself is right. Reflect:* What two reasons does today's Bible reading give for respecting yourself? * Do you respect yourself? * If so, in what ways? * If not, how would your words and behaviour change if you started respecting yourself? * How can you show more respect for yourself in the future?
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 8:54 am
Image Is Everything Bible Reading: Genesis 1:26-31 IMAGINE WHAT IT would feel like if your town erected a statue of you in the middle of the town square or in front of city hall, then used your statue as a target, throwing rotten tomatoes and apples at your image! Imagine what it would feel like to be the president of your own company, with a huge oil painting of yourself hanging in the company's fancy lobby - and then to discover that someone had drawn a silly mustache on your face in the painting! Imagine what it would feel like if your picture were printed in People magazine's annual "Fifty Most Beautiful People" issue; but, when you went to the store to buy as many copy as you could, you discovered that someone had gone through every single issue and written in bold, black markers, "This is an ugly picture!" across your photo. How would such things make you feel? Sad? Angry? Hurt? But now, wait a minute. Remember that those people aren't attacking you - they're only attacking your image, right? But it would still hurt, wouldn't it? When someone attacks, insults, or disrespects something made in your image, it's just like they were going it to you, right? Well, then, if you can understand that, imagine how God feels when people attack, insult, or disrespect other people. After all, every human being in the world is made in God's image. Every man and woman has been created in the image of God. So don't you think it makes God sad, angry, or hurt when we don't respect others who bear his image? You see, that's why respect is right and disrespect is wrong - because we were all made in the image of God. Every human being is made in God's image, whether he or she is old or young, dark-skinned or light-skinned, male or female, able or disabled, sick or well, cool or uncool. Every human being is valuable in God's eyes. And every human being deserves to be respected as a unique and valuable child of God. Reflect:*What does today's Bible reading say about human beings? *Why is respect for others right? *Do you know any person who isn't made in the image of God? *Do you know any person who doesn't deserve to be respected as a unique and valuable child of God? *Do you think you can respect a person without agreeing with his or her behavior? *If so, how? *How can you show respect for every human being you meet today?
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:53 am
Chip and Dale Bible Reading: Romans 12:9-10 CHIP AND DALE are two cartoon chipmunks. They're cute, lovable little fellows. They giggle. They scamper. They get into trouble. They get mad at each other. They make up. They're the best of friends. When you notice how they sometimes behave toward each other, you know why they seem so close. Have you ever seen them enter a doorway? Chip will stand aside and say something like, "After you." Dale will smile and answer, "Oh no, I insist. You first." "Oh no no no no no," Chip will say with a dramatic bow. "You first." And so it goes, each one seeming to take delight in honoring the other. We should all be more like Chip and Dale. For several reasons. First, because the Bible says we should be like Chip and Dale. Not in so many words, of course; the Bible was written long before cartoons were invented. But the Bible does say, "Honour all men..." (1 Peter 2:17) and "....in honour preferring one another;" (Romans 12:10). But there's another reason too: Respect encourages healthy relationships. If Chip and Dale weren't so respectful, they probably wouldn't be such lovable creatures. If they didn't treat each other with kindness and respect, they probably wouldn't get along as well. Think about it. Who wouldn you choose to hang around with: someone who calls you names or someone who is polite to you? Who would you want to spend more time with: someone who treats you like dirt or someone who treats you with respect? Who would you want to be your friend: someone who insists on going first every time or someone who stands aside and says, "After you"? Most friendships won't last very long without respect because respect is an important ingredient of a good relationship. Respect helps to build strong, healthy relationships; disrespect usually destroys relationships. So take a lesson from Chip and Dale and from the Bible: "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." (Romans 12: 10). Reflect:*Do you like being around people who treat you disrespectfully? *Why or why not? *Do you have any "friends" who treat you disrespectfully? *Do you treat any of your friends disrespectfully? *Why or why not? *Do you want respect to be an ingredient in your friendships? *If so, how can you make that happen?
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