R E S P E C T

I Peter 2:17

What do players regularly do that is a genuine gesture of respect?  I’ve seen you make complimentary comments after a good play.  Some will point to their teammate after making a good pass.  Maybe it’s a nod or a tip of the cap.  How can we show proper respect for our teammates, coaches, opponents and even the officials?  Why should we even care about that?

Peter understood the value of showing proper honor and respect to people and he wrote about it at chapter 2 and verse 17 of his first letter.  There it says, “Honor all people.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honor the king.”

When you hear the word, honor, substitute the phrase, show proper respect.  There are certainly many ways to show proper respect to your teammates during the course of the game.  Peter challenges us to take full advantage of them.

When Peter says that we should honor the king, we think of showing proper respect to those with authority related to our team.  Thus we honor the coaching staff, the game officials and our parents.  Beneath the other statements is the one that fuels all the others.  To fear God is to have a reverential awe and respect for Him.  When we show proper respect for the Creator of the universe, it’s a little easier to honor those with lesser provinces of authority in our worlds.

As you compete today, honor all people.  That will include spectators and the other team’s last reserve players.  Love the brotherhood, your teammates with all your heart.  Fear God, show him the proper respect.  Honor the king, keep yourselves in order and show respect to those who must give an account for your attitudes and actions.

Bible Reading Plan:
Job 10
Ezekiel 31-32