A young man from the South met a young lady from the North. When it came time to travel up North to meet her parents, the young man was very careful to abide by the proper etiquette he had been taught. In conversation with her parents he made sure to say, "Yes, sir," "No, sir," Yes, ma'am," "No, Ma'am." However, her parents did not appreciate that kind of language. They thought he was being a smart aleck. Whether or not the young man said it in a "wise guy" way, I do not know. However, one thing is clear: the very expressions, "Yes, sir," "No, sir," do not automatically convey respect. This is not to say that our children should not be taught to say, "Yes, sir," "No, sir," but it is to say that there is more to respect than that.

Jesus said concerning some scribes and Pharisees, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me" (Mt. 15:8). The scribes and Pharisees were considered by many in the first century to be the prime example of spirituality. After all, they were supposed to be experts in the Law of Moses, yet Jesus said, "do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not" (Mt. 23:3). They were supposed to be the most righteous of all people, yet Jesus said, "That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Mt. 5:20).

What was their problem? They "honored," or respected, the Lord only with their words. The part of them that really mattered-their heart-was far away from Him. What was the result of this lack of true respect? "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mt. 15:9). How sad! The seemingly most spiritual of all people, but in vain!

We must truly respect the Lord, "not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God" (Col. 3:22). When we truly respect Him, our words will be right, but even more importantly, our actions will prove it. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Mt. 7:21). How much do we respect the Lord? Do we do His will?