1 Samuel 28: Respect

"Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed his face to the ground and paid homage."

1 Samuel 28:14b

Saul consults a medium to bring forth the spirit of the deceased priest, Samuel.  When his spirit arrives, Saul bows down in respect for the holy man's ghost.  The third core value of the US Army is respect.

It's easy to respect people who are truly deserving of it.  However, respecting strong men of character is not good enough.  How can we respect all people?  Doing this requires a more detailed definition of what respect really means.

Respect is all about appreciating others' strengths.  Even the most foolhardy person has at least a few good, positive traits which could (and should) be respected.  Respect also involves viewing others as worthwhile, deserving of your time and effort.

Did Saul treat others with respect?  Even the most deserving man, David, didn't get any respect from Saul whatsoever.  The king chased David until he fled the country to save his life.  He disobeyed God's commands, shunning the teachings of Samuel (the priest who anointed him king).  He disrespected his whole country by wasting his time on his own selfish desires instead of focusing on the people's needs.

Question of the Day:

Do you have what it takes to respect yourself and all living things (and nonliving things, too)?  Will you choose to be like Saul, who disrespected everyone (even himself)?  Will you choose instead to be like David, who showed respect for everyone (even the king who tried to have him killed)?  Are you filled with the Spirit enough that you can be as respectful as Jesus, who spent his time teaching the least-deserving individuals instead of prancing with the "elite" leaders of the time?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, give me the insight to be a more respectful and respectable person.  Help me to always look for the good in others, and to treat others like the best that they can be instead of the lesser beings they might sometimes act like.  Do not let me be disrespectful of any individual or group, but instead help me become empathetic towards all people and their unique backgrounds.  Amen.