Tag Archives: Desmond Tutu

August 18, 2020 · 9:55 am

Reverence

Reverence– Deep respect or veneration, especially on account of the object’s sacred or exalted character. The condition or state of being deeply respected or venerated.

(Oxford Dictionary)

Our reverence for God is much more than just respect or honor. Reverence for God involves a recognition of who he is that brings into our souls joy and awe for the creator. God, himself, who created us in his image has enabled our Spirits to know and acknowledge deep within our souls who he is. That understanding leads us to a level of adoration and worship that is reserved for God alone. No other person or any creation is worthy of such reverence.

Respect is earned by merit. Reverence is an intrinsic acknowledgement and recognition of the holiness and awesomeness of God . Reverence is not mere admiration, it is a unique level of existence that is reserved for our Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and Comforter as we glorify and exalt his very existence and power and presence in our lives.

The people of Israel could not even speak the name of Yahweh. We should humbly approach God with a level of fear and awe that belongs to him alone.

Reverence invites Revelation ~~~Boyd K. Packer

Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.

~~~Henry David Thoreau

Whoever gives reverence receives reverence.

~~~Rumi

Just as white light consists of colored rays, so reverence for life contains all the components of ethics: love, kindliness, sympathy, empathy, peacefulness and power to forgive.

~~~Albert Schweitzer

No soul is desolate as long as there is a human being for whom it can feel trust and reverence.

~~~George Eliot

Only reverence can restrain violence – reverence for human life and the environment.

~~~William Sloane Coffin

What we call love is in its essence reverence for life.

~~~Albert Schweitzer

Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence.

~~~Plato

Only when we are captured by an overwhelming sense of awe and reverence in the presence of God, will we begin to worship God in spirit and in truth.

~~~Alistair Begg

By having a reverence for life, we enter into a spiritual relation with the world By practicing reverence for life we become good, deep, and alive.

~~~Albert Schweitzer

Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.

~~~Pope Francis

Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies.

~~~John Milton

The more reverence we have for the Word of God, the more joy we shall find in it.

~~~Matthew Henry

Then he said, ‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’

—Exodus 3:5

a God feared in the council of the holy ones,

great and awesome above all that are around him?

—Psalm 89:7

Happy is everyone who fears the Lord,

who walks in his ways.

—Psalm 128:1

The God of Israel has spoken,

the Rock of Israel has said to me:

One who rules over people justly,

ruling in the fear of God,

—2 Samuel 23:3

Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

—Acts 9:31

Only fear the Lord, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.

—1 Samuel 12:24

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

—Hebrews 5:7

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.

—James 2:19

You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling-block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

—Leviticus 19:14

The angel of the Lord encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

—Psalm 34:7

Prayer

Lord, In all ways I respect and reverence you. You are my creator and redeemer-the reason I am here. In you I find strength and comfort in all the paths of my life. Make my life an example to others by the way that I fear and serve you. May I never forget the praise I owe to you.

Amen

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Filed under Monday Musings

Tagged as Christian contemplation, Desmond Tutu, Devotional Thoughts, Quotes, Reverence

March 9, 2018 · 6:00 am

Lent Day 21

March 9

Love the Lord

Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbor as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Prayer Thought

Lord, in our lives we seek to love but sometimes fail. Let us focus our love towards you so it may reach out to all the world.

God’s dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion.

—-Desmond Tutu

Dead Sea Scroll Remains a Puzzle After Scientists Crack its Code (livescience.com)
Facing Adversity as Christians (standupforthetruth.com)

Happiness

When a chap is in love, he will go out in all kinds of weather to keep an appointment with his beloved. Love can be demanding;in fact, more demanding than law. It has its own imperatives. Think of a mother sitting by the bedside of a sick child through the night, impelled only by love. Nothing is too much trouble for love.

—-Archbishop Desmond Tutu

There is a tale that in the first century a man came to Tertullian, a father in the early church. And in trying to justify some compromises the man had felt he had to make, commented, “I have to live, don’t I?” to which Tertullian is reported to have said, “Do you?”

The only certain happiness in life is to live for others.

—-Leo Tolstoy

Life is experienced at its best and fullest when we are loving and giving to others. Whether we are speaking of some random philanthropist or of the sacrifice of Jesus we are always touched when we see someone put others first. Such behavior moves our hearts and brings out the best in us. Giving behavior motivates us to become better people. Jesus said, “It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave.” Believers should be mindful that our calling is to give more that we receive. I agree so strongly with Tolstoy that the key to true happiness is to live for others, because that allows us to focus away from ourselves.