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Much Respect

 

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"We have a great sense of togetherness.  
It is our team Spirit that has taken us to 
the World Cup." ~Robbie Keane, professional footballer & coach

Watching the World Cup is a riveting experience.  Learning the rules of the game is an entirely different challenge - so much seems subjective with the time rules and the calls.  Maybe it's because I've been an American football fan my whole life that I feel like I've just been let into a new fun culture of fandom.  

I am so happy the U.S. was able to host this year, bringing people from all over the globe here and watching them unite over a team/country.  It's been refreshing to see and hear the comments from other countries' fans as they visit America and enjoy our customs and the different sites.  

I heard a story that struck me with amazement.  Japan's team, after the game, left their locker room tidy and organized.


Their fans and team also helped clean the stands after the game out of respect to the host.  Wow.   

CBS News

Could we Americans learn a thing or two.  I love my country, kind of like I love crab - it's a luxury experience, but darn if it doesn't leave your house smelling sometimes.  

Respect.  What has happened to it?  As we celebrate our 250th birthday as a nation next week, our flag has been a symbol of these "united states" that fought for a democracy free from tyranny rule  at great cost and sacrifice. A symbol of our nation that was founded on principles under God, allowing people to enjoy and express civil liberties on every level.  

The flag itself has laws created to respect it - how and when it should be displayed, it shouldn't be allowed to touch the ground, when it should be flown at half-staff. The meaning is in the colors of the flag: red represents hardiness and valor, white is for purity and innocence, and blue stands for vigilance, perseverance and justice. 

But now, we see Americans spit on it, burn it, drag and tear it.  Kind of a sign of the lack of respect some in our country have decided is their right to demonstrate.  If you look at online interactions and the news, it seems we have lost our sense of unity, reverence to God, to authority, having an embarrassing discontentment in general.  God's Word spoke to this-

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.  Avoid such people."  2 Timothy 3:1-5

Doesn't each one of those phrases sound like a story from the news headlines?  The Bible is infiltrated with demonstrations of respect - towards God, towards each other, towards our country.  

How can we demonstrate respect today and be obedient to God's Word?  Could we consider someone else more important than ourselves because it is honoring to the Lord?  Could we cut back on spending somewhere on something unnecessary so we might give to someone in need out of obedience to God and the desire to expand His kingdom?  Could we season our talk with grace out of respect for others, out of humility, even when it's hard to do so?  



It's difficult to do each one of those things on our own, apart from the Holy Spirit.  God knew that, so He gave us His Spirit that lives in us right now, knowing that the world not accept Him (John 14:15-31).  And God tells us that to be careful and not be part of it so it won't affect us. 

Imagine if the Church as a whole, who is supposed to represent Christ,  not just the Japanese-who may or may not follow Christ,  showed this much respect towards others.  It would literally change the world.

✙ Dear Father in Heaven, You have warned us that the end times would be difficult, that people would love themselves instead of You.  Help us to represent You with honor and obedience, especially when it is so hard.  Replace our hearts of stone with Your heart for others.  Amen.

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