1 Kings 3:28 (NKJV)
“And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”

Our actions will determine how people see us. Many people think that “position” brings respect, and it might for a while, but true respect and awe come from the decisions we make and how they affect people.

When people see us making good and wise decisions repeatedly, they will come to admire the grace of God in our lives and, because of that grace, relate to us in a special way.

If, however, we repeatedly make unwise decisions that harm people’s well-being, regardless of our position, people will stop respecting us and begin to look down on us.

Don’t pursue respect from people. Don’t desire it and don’t look for it. Concentrate on living in such a way that people can see God’s glory in you. God’s glory manifests in many ways, but one way is through wise decisions.

Solomon was already king, but he needed to be tested. And when the test came, God helped him discern the truth between the two harlots, and his judgment shocked everyone. It was clear that God’s wisdom was with him.

“And they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him” (NKJV). The NLT translates fear as “awe.” It reads, “the people were in awe of the king.” Awe is how we respond to someone or something that amazes us.

People will live in “awe of us” when our actions speak wisdom and glory. Our actions define how people respond to us. For example, we live in awe of God because of who He is and what He does. This same awe can be how people see us.

Finally, it says that they “saw the wisdom God has given him.” The gifts of God cannot be hidden. When God chooses to bless you with a gift, it will manifest for people to see, or at least, it is supposed to manifest for people to see.

Let us pray that God’s gifts to us will translate as “openly visible grace” that people can stand in awe of. It is one thing to desire respect from people. It’s something else to live in the fullness of God’s grace and let God manifest Himself through you.

In these last days, our impact will be directly connected with the grace that people see in us. If we hide God’s grace, there will be no respect, and without respect, people will not respond positively to us or our message. Respect is a needed means to an end.

@ChineduOranye
RestlessPilgrim.org