The Bible says in Romans 15:7, receive one another, as Jesus has received you. Did He know all about your stuff? Did He make you really welcome in your life? He has, and that's how you treat people. Do you see stuff? Of course you see it. Do you have to make sure that you're cautious about it? Sure you do. You've got to be wise, and not just take everything, but you know you can still reach out, and love and welcome people, and make them feel glad to be with you, because of the honour, respect and appreciation you give to them, when they're with you.
Let's just close our eyes right now. Those principles will help you. They'll change you. Start at home, start with your family, start with your mum and dad, start with brothers and sisters, start with those around you. Let me just ask you this question: do you intentionally practice honour and respect? Secondly, are there people that you have shown disrespect to, because you're familiar with them? It's a terrible thing, familiarity. People get to know you. I've found that very difficult. I'm a Pastor, I'm a person too, and I've got shortcomings. The closer people get to me, the easier it is for them to see the shortcomings. You only see me at a meeting, very much, but it's not so much you get near enough to see the shortcomings. My wife sees those, staff see those, and that's where grace is needed, not to end up despising and dishonouring, because you see the weaknesses in people.
There's a decision I made with my Pastor, never to despise him because of the humanity that I saw, but to recognise the gift that he was to me from God, and I thank God for him to this day. I can think of other ministers God brought in my life. Every one of them fell over in adultery, yet I honour them and thank God for them, because they were great men, who put great things into my life. I choose not to be offended by their failure, and God has helped me because of that. So are there people that you judge because of race? You look at them, and something rises up, and instead of receiving them, you feel this wall of reserve. Is it because of social status? Is it because of finance, so if people are wealthy, will you treat them better than someone else - people obviously poor, oh well, you just don't have so much to do with them? That's not receiving people as Christ received us.
In the community when you go, do you notice people, start to pay attention to the people, the people who serve you in the bank, and the tellers, and the various people that you meet? I tell you, if you were to ask God: teach me how to honour and respect the people around me, show me every time I dishonour and disrespect someone and don't receive them, welcoming them like you've welcomed me, show it to me. Would you put that challenge out to God today? I'm sure He'll start to show you all kinds of things, and your life will start to change.
So what has God spoken to you today? What is it you need to make an adjustment? What will you do when you leave this place? I think your whole life could change. I think that you'll start to see around you, wonderful gifts of God, saved and unsaved gifts of God, people that can help you, if you can honour and respect them, and accept them unconditionally in your life, and start to build the connection with them, with those underlying values. Your life will begin to change. Your influence will begin to change. You will begin to change. Wouldn't that be worth it? Wouldn't that be worth it? You say Amen.