Respect for humanity is a core principle that recognizes the inherit dignity and worth of every human being. It emphasizes treating all individuals with fairness, equality, and consideration, regardless of background, beliefs, or circumstances.
The Bible talked about the inherent worth of all humans regardless of status, race, or gender as we were all created in God’s image.
In Acts 10:34-35 Peter declares,
“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him, and does what is right.”
Sadly, disrespect or hate for someone who has a different skin color, ethnicity, or religion is taught by media and politics which fuels division and rewards anger over understanding, and acts as a “de facto” teacher of disrespect. Cultural influences also play a significant role in shaping attitudes of disrespect and hate towards humanity, and sometimes foster disrespect and hate through implicit and explicit teachings.
The key aspects of respect for humanity include:
Equality: treating everyone equally regardless of the race, gender, religion, social status, or any other characteristic.
Dignity: recognizing the intrinsic value of every person, and not using them as a means to an end.
Rights: respecting the fundamental rights of individuals, including the right to life, freedom, and security.
Kindness and compassion: showing empathy and concern for the well-being of others, even those that we disagree with.
Everyone deserves the right to life. We are at a place in the world where the forced beliefs of others are causing violence, war, and death.
I have suffered from Migraine headaches for over 40 years. I’ve been to doctors, and neurologists and have tried every treatment possible and nothing seems to help. I have often wondered what the purpose of pain is. It is not just something we have to endure in the fallen world. Does God has a purpose for it?
I watch a movie the other night called “Sigmond Freud’s Last Session.” C.S. Lewis was in it. I learned that Lewis wrote in one his book “The Problem of Pain, God whispers to us in our pleasures, and speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It his megaphone to arouse a deaf world.
Pain and suffering may be the consequences of sin in a broken world. But nothing is wasted in God’s economy. As He continues to allow this temporary season, how will the Lord use this for my good and His glory? I wonder what He might want me learn through my migraines.
Is it to keep me humble? Or maybe to slow me don’t so I can spend more time with Him. Because just when I think I am fully trusting the Lord. He reveals to me I’m only scratching the surface. He is continuously calling me to grow.
When I’m suffering for days with a migraine I need to remember the many people praying for me, and encouraging me. He has people in my life who will support me.
But, pain and suffering have a powerful way of drawing me to God. Pain and suffering are not just negative experiences, they also are opportunities for growth, learning, and redemptive growth. Romans 5:3-5 says,
“We also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance and perseverance, proven character, hope. And hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
The megaphone of the pain and suffering can be a powerful tool for good.
We can ignore pleasures, but pain and suffering insist on being attended to. There is no doubt that God’s megaphone is a terrible instrument. But it is only one that gives “bad people” an opportunity for amendment. It removes the veil and allows us to see what’s behind it.
I know that when I’m in pain, God allows me to draw closer to Him.
I would love to visit Budapest, Hungary and take the ancestral village tour to get an idea of who my ancestors were. Learning a few cooking secret would be great also. I can cook a few things, but they don’t quite taste like Nagymama’s. Maybe her secret ingredient was love.
One of my favorite things about myself is I am observant. Growing up I wasn’t allowed to speak. My mother would always say ‘children were meant to be seen not heard,’ I wasn’t allowed to ask her questions. I became observant of things around me. It was how I learned.
As an adult it has become one of my best qualities. I notice things others don’t . I acquire knowledge, and skills by watching others. I learn the behaviors of others by watching them.
One of the greatest survival tactics we have been given is prayer. We have an open channel of communication with the One true God. Praying the word of God is a powerful tool of comfort in the world we live in.
Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world.”
Heaven is home to God’s children. The pressure of the world to fit into its mold can be suffocating. In Romans 12:2 Paul encourages us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world.” God has the power to move in our lives and through our circumstances. Prayer allows us to unload the burden of this world into His capable hands which plugs us into peace here on earth.
Praying God’s Word is a powerful tool of comfort in the world we live in.
The state of our world can convict us and cause us to cling to things in this world. If we read the Bible we can see the volatile history of mankind’s fallen nature. Human history is scarred. And the conditions of our world only continue to increase.
We do not have to succumb to the world’s doom-and-gloom reality of society because we have the power of the living God in us through Jesus. Through our love of Jesus, we can forge a path that illuminates the way, and by adjusting our perspective we can see past the world’s destruction and have hope that Jesus will come to save us.
We have a personal, saving God who created each of us with a purpose that allows us to feel His love and extend that love to others. May God’s love rule in our hearts, because all life flows through it.
Too often we allow the ways of the world to overwhelm us. We are called to be light in a dark world because we have a source of light in us for those around us.
God’s love is light that gives us hope, guidance, and a divine presence in the middle of suffering or confusion. God’s love is a gradient force that pierces through the despair of evil. His love brings clarity and warmth in life’s darkest moments. His love is light that doesn’t just illuminate but also comforts and guides us through the void in this world.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” -1 Thessalonians 5:16
Prayer is a vital part of a relationship with God because it is what cultivates that relationship. How can we depend to someone we don’t know?
Really, this isn’t complicated. We have to make praying a priority in our lives. Don’t wait until you in the parking lot until the interview to pray about the job. Don’t wait to pray that you will have healthy children pray about it when you find yourself with a child.
It is never too early to talk to God about what going nom in your life.
A while ago I ordered a part for a friend’s truck for her. I didn’t pray about it first. The entire process has been a dumpster fire. The delivery driver hasn’t delivered it. It says it’s out for delivery, but they won’t deliver it, despite though have delivered other things. It’s very frustrating. I have been praying about it, even though I’m late in the process. I know God can even answer prayer when they are too late, maybe its because I have lost faith that they will even deliver it at this point.
Whether I pray now or later, God still has the power to answer them.
It’s not about whether God will answer prayer, it’s whether we have enough faith. God tells us we will have trials and tribulations in life.
We are fighting a war, but our weapons are not swords or guns, we fight with words -our prayers. Even though this fight is in the spiritual it’s not ok rush it. Spiritual or not when we rush about it there is little chance of winning. Maybe before saying a prayer at the last minute, or waiting for trouble to come, we should prepare the for the battle ahead.
John 16:33 that trouble will come,
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you will have peace. In the world you will have tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
If we know it’s coming we should pray about it now. Because by the time the problem comes, we will be more prepared. In fact, God will likely move things around innour favor so the problem will be solved before it gets to us.
Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us,
“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you, He will never leave you not foresake you, Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.”
Jesus can fight our battles ahead of time. How many more battles will be won in advance when we add our faith to prayer?
What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily?
The oldest thing I use today would be my father’s devil dog depot can opener from when he was in the service. It’s on my key chain. It’s functional and brings back memories.
It seems like worldly self-esteem bases our worth on appearance, possessions and accomplishments. Whether high or low, this kind of esteem is prideful, it focuses on self, and doesn’t add value to our lives. It minimizes our potential for growth and influence.
However self-image is based on the value God has placed on us and goes far beyond what we can dream or imagine.
We can increase our value by living a Christ-centered follower.
If we look at the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians it gives us reasons we are valuable to God.
We are valuable because of who we are
“God said, let’s made man in our image, after of likeness…” -Genesis 1:26
When we were created by God, we were the focus of His love.
“Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be Holy and without defect before Him in love” -Ephesians 1:4
2. We are valuable because of what we can become.
As a person who is loved by God and adopted into His family as believers, we can be sure that God has a plan for each of our lives.
“In whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of Him who does all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we should be to the praise of His glory, we who had before hoped in Messiah” – Ephesians 1:11-12
3. We are valuable because of what we cost.
Ad one loved by God, we have also been chosen by God for
“Adoption as sons (and daughters) by Jesus Christ Himself” – Ephesians 1:5
This adoption came at a high price, with the death of God’s Son,
“He made us accepted in the beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” –Ephesians 1:6-7
The value God has placed on us is the value we should place on ourselves. We can live as someone valued by God when we know these truths:
Jesus wants to have a relationship with us. When Paul prayed,
“Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith” -Ephesians 3:17
He wasn’t referring to something temporary. Jesus wants to live and relate with us permanently.
We can experience Jesus’s love.
As if we were being pursued relationally by the Son of God isn’t enough, even more amazing is the fact that He wants each of us to strengthen us,
“may (be) strengthened to comprehend with all the Holy ones what is the width and length and height and depth, and know Messiah love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God” -Ephesians 3:18
Jesus wants us to be filled with the fullness of God and came that we might live more abundantly.
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” -John 10:10
God’s power is not limited.
“Now in Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” -Ephesians 3:20
God can do a great work within us.
This divine love and power that exceeds our imaginations works in us because His Spirit strengthens us and the Holy Spirit lives in us once we are saved.
With these truths we cannot help seeing ourselves as valuable. But it doesn’t stop there. To live as someone valued by God we must do something with that knowledge.
Here are some things to do with the knowledge we have:
Discover our spiritual paths and start moving. In Ephesians 4:1, Paul pleaded with believers to walk worthy of the calling with which we were called. Be intentional about living a life that matches who we are by virtue of our relationship with Jesus.
Be humble and disciplined. Cultivating Jesus’s attitude of humanity by putting others before ourselves and following through with what we start. “With all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love” -Ephesians 4:2
Experience community and serve one another. We feel more valuable when we work to add value to other’s lives and keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
“Being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” -Ephesians 4:3
4. Use your unique gifts. Followers of Jesus are “one body” who belong to “one Lord” and one God and Father (Ephesians 4:4-6), but that doesn’t mean we are supposed to look, speak, and act alike. God has made us all unique and He has given us unique gifts to influence others and add value to our lives.
5. Keep growing. Ephesians 4:15 says that satisfaction with the status quo always leads to stagnation. Until the day we die, we have the potential to keep growing, leading, and making a difference in the world by adding value to others’ lives. It starts by believing and living as someone valued by God.
You matter. You are valuable. Start living like it.
My favorite moments, the ones that brought me indescribable joy was when I saw my babies the moment they were born. The moment of shock and awe they came out of me.
The overwhelming blend of raw emotion and connection when the doctor placed them in my arms. The way we locked eyes. It’s not only a miracle in the physical it’s a miracle of the creation of a unique human being that carry potential and promise.
I go to a prayer meeting every week that my pastor attends. He asked the group to pray and ask if the Lord tells us anything for our church. I am sharing what I got from the Lord when I was praying.
I asked Him what one problem was about the church. He answered “These days it is the prayer life of the church.”
I feel like there is a list of many other problems that face God’s people like getting other people to attend church services or securing real spiritual results. Whether it is a issue of lack of love or unity are finances but these are secondary and almost superficial, they only touch a margin of the situation.
The real is the prayer life of the church, and if that is solved every other problem will be fixed. All our difficulties would melt away if our prayer life were to become vital, powerful, and revived -prayer is the very life if the church. It should be the life of a church member, of the church worship along with its various activities.
Acts 4:23-35 there are seven marks of a praying church that are clearly indicated.
In a praying church, there is a recognition of th supreme importance of prayer, and therefore there is a spontaneous desire. Few people wonder why unbelievers do not believe in a living God who answers prayer, yet many of us have so little appreciation of its importance and have so little desire for it.
When Peter and John were released after being told no to speak in the name of Jesus they returned to the others and all began praying and lifting up their voices to God with one accord saying,
“O Lord, You are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them” -Acts 4:24
2. In a praying church the eyes of faith and expectancy are towards the Lord. If we turned our eyes away from man and our problems and turned them to the Lord He could solve every problem. The Lord is in control of every situation (Acts 4:24).
If we were in line with the attitude in Psalm 62:5,
“My soul, wait in silence for God alone, from my expectation is from Him.”
After all, whatever problem faces us it is God who matters, not the meetings, the preacher, the man, or the money. These are all, and always secondary. The eyes of a praying church are on God who is:
The Sovereign Lord:
God is the all-powerful creator and sustainer, the One who knows the end from the beginning and who has a great plan which no one can hinder.
The Self-revealing Lord:
God had spoken not only through the prophets but also through His Word, but primarily in His Son.
The seeing Lord:
God sees all and waits to intervene and accomplish His will in answer to the prayers of His people.
3. In a praying church there is an overwhelming desire to obey the Lords commission to evangelize the world.
In Acts 4 they did not pray “grant that we may be kept safe -grant that Peter and John may be protected or Lord don’t let it happen again” but they prayed, “Lord help us to get on with the job of proclaiming the gospel.” In a praying church this will be the overwhelming desire of its members. The church has to have a constant effort not to organize, but to evangelize -to get souls born again into the family of God.
4. In a praying church there is Faith to demand miracles. When prayer is exercised God breaks in with supernatural acts His “signs and wonders.” In Acts they prayed that God would stretch out His hand to heal and that He would perform miracles.
Today some people think miracles are a thing of the past. Some say that the Apostolic signs are no longer required and since those scripture are of old we won’t expect see miracles performed. I think these beliefs are justifying and excusing our praylessness. The fact is that when the church prays miracles really do take place.
Miracles are performed in the spiritual realm, souls are saved, and even desperate people are converted. In the physical realm God is willing to heal the bodies and minds of His children.
5. In a praying church there Holy Spirit manifests His presence and power (Acts 4:31).
Prayer is the secret to a Pentecostal outpouring. When we notice what happened on that Pentecost in the upper room and realize it can happen again and again. But answer is prayer.
6. In a praying church there is mighty power in preaching the gospel.
We read about what happened to the people who prayed in the “upper room.” The Holy Spirit moved in and multitudes were saved. It was the vital intercession of this praying church in the upper room and great things were accomplished.
Prayer and teaching the gospel have been and will always be the only answer to God’s people.
7. In a praying church there is great grace in the lives of God’s people. Acts 4:33 says,
“Great grace was on them all.”
There was the grace of unity -Acts 4:32
There was the grace of renunciation
There was the grace of fellowship
There was the grace of liberality (generosity, and openhandedness) -Acts 4:34-35
From Pity to Praise 