Discerning True Reverence for God in Others' Lives
Discerning true reverence for God in others' lives involves observing specific attitudes and actions that reflect a genuine devotion to the divine. Reverence for God is often understood as the foundation for meaningful words and actions [7].
One primary indicator of reverence is humility. Humility is considered a prominent Christian grace and a state of mind pleasing to God [2]. It is essential for serving God [3]. Christ himself serves as the ultimate example of humility, as seen in his willingness to empty himself and take on the form of a servant [2, 3]. Individuals who exhibit humility are regarded by God, enjoy His presence, and are promised exaltation [3]. This grace helps preserve the soul in tranquility and fosters patience during trials [2].
Another key aspect is diligence in spiritual and practical matters. Diligence is required in seeking God, obeying His commands, and striving for spiritual perfection [4]. This includes cultivating Christian graces, guarding one's soul and heart, and diligently performing "labours of love" [4]. Perseverance and focused commitment, particularly in loving others, are hallmarks of genuine Christian faith and contribute to the assurance of salvation [10].
True reverence also manifests in the way individuals approach God in prayer and worship. This includes offering praise to God and Christ, recognizing their worthiness and majesty [5]. The act of prayer itself, when offered with a correct attitude, reflects truth, justice, and righteousness, indicating that inner attitudes align with spoken words [11]. A humble and reverent posture in prayer, such as bowing the knees, can signify this devotion [14].
Furthermore, a reverent person seeks God's honor rather than human approval. Jesus questioned how people could believe if they sought honor from one another instead of the honor that comes from God alone [1]. This suggests that a focus on divine approval over human praise is a mark of true reverence.
Repentance toward God is another crucial element. This involves recognizing one's sinfulness in relation to God's righteous demands and feeling compunction for dishonoring Him [8]. This "honest and good heart" is directed "toward God" because He is the one offended by sin [8].
Holiness, in the sense of being consecrated to God's service and conforming to His will, is also indicative of reverence [6]. This personal holiness is a gradual process, requiring watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance [6].
Finally, a deep understanding and acknowledgment that the Lord is the one true God, and that there is no other, is fundamental to reverence [9, 12]. This knowledge, coupled with an understanding of God's unfailing love and righteousness, forms the basis for a boast that God Himself recognizes [12]. The apostle Paul, for instance, served God with a pure conscience, having been educated in the knowledge of the true God and the proper manner of worship [13].
Sources
- John “John 5:44 (Geneva1599) — How can ye beleeue, which receiue honour one of another, and seeke not the honour that commeth of God alone?”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Humility — A prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Ch”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Praise — God is worthy of -- 2Sa 22:4. Christ is worthy of -- Re 5:12. God is glorified by -- Ps 22:23; 50:23. Offered to Christ -- Joh 12:13. Acceptable through Christ -- Heb 13:15. Is due to God on account of His majesty. -- Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14. His glory. -- Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12. His excellency. -- Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13. His greatness. -- 1Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3. His wisdom. -- Da 2:20; Jude 1:25. His power. -- Ps 21:13. His goodness. -- Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11. His mercy. -- 2Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1-4; 136:1-26. His loving-k”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
- Ecclesiastes (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ecclesiastes 5:7: 5:7 Fear God: Reverence for God is the foundation for worthwhile words and useful activities (see 12:1; Prov 1:7).”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 20:21: Testifying both to Jews and . . . Greeks--laboring under a common malady, and recoverable only by a common treatment. repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ--(See on Act 5:31). REPENTANCE, as distinguished from faith, is that state of the "honest and good heart" which arises from a discovery of one's contrariety to the righteous demands of the divine law. This is said to be "toward God," because seeing Him to be the party dishonored by sin, it feels all its acknowledgments and compunctions to be properly due to Him, as the great”
- 1 Kings (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Kings 8:59: That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God,.... By chastising the people of Israel when they sinned; by bearing and answering their prayers when they prayed unto him; by forgiving their sins, and delivering them out of their troubles; by maintaining their cause, and protecting them in the enjoyment of their blessings: and that there is "none else"; no God besides him; all being else fictitious deities, or nominal ones; he only is the one living and true God. That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God,.... By chastising the peo”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 6:11: 6:11 keep on loving others (literally show the same eager commitment): Love of other believers is a hallmark of genuine Christian faith (Jas 2:15-16; 1 Jn 3:16-20). Through diligence and focused commitment, they can make their hope in Christ absolutely certain. Assurance of salvation comes through perseverance.”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 4:2: 4:2 As surely as the Lord lives: The correct attitude when offering a prayer of confession and making oaths reflects truth, justice, and righteousness. Truth means that the inner attitudes and thoughts of those praying match the words they utter. Justice means living by the laws of the Lord, who will judge the earth. Righteousness means that people relate to others in accordance with the Lord’s Spirit and the moral standards he has established. This kind of prayer requires a radical transformation of people’s inner lives and outer lifestyle (Gen 22:18; Deut 10:20”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 9:24: 9:24 The Lord would recognize just one kind of boast—the testimony of persons who truly know and understand that the Lord is the one true God (1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 10:17). • unfailing love: This key covenant term (Hebrew khesed) carries the basic meaning of passionate loyalty. It is often undeserved, and the word may be translated as “mercy,” “grace,” “kindness,” or love. It is the Old Testament equivalent of the New Testament affirmation that “God is love” (1 Jn 4:8). • righteousness: God deals with his people on an ethical, moral level. He does what is right in e”
- 2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 1:3: Whom I serve from my forefathers - Being born a Jew, I was carefully educated in the knowledge of the true God, and the proper manner of worshipping him. With pure conscience - Ever aiming to please him, even in the time when through ignorance I persecuted the Church. Without ceasing I have remembrance of thee - The apostle thanks God that he has constant remembrance of Timothy in his prayers. It is a very rare thing now in the Christian Church, that a man particularly thanks God that he is enabled to pray for Others. And yet he that can do this most must have an ”
- Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 3:14: We now come to the second part of this chapter, which contains Paul's devout and affectionate prayer to God for his beloved Ephesians. - For this cause. This may be referred either to the immediately foregoing verse, That you faint not, etc., or, rather, the apostle is here resuming what he began at the first verse, from which he digressed in those which are interposed. Observe, I. To whom he prays - to God, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of which see Eph 1:3. II. His outward posture in prayer, which was humble and reverent: I bow my knees. Note, When ”