Do you find yourself talking differently to someone you just met as opposed to someone you’ve known for years? We tend to put our best foot forward and use your best manners when we meet someone new. We remember to ask them questions about themselves and truly listen so we can learn as much as possible about the other person. We honor them in the way we listen and converse with them, giving them our complete focus.
When we know a person well, we communicate differently. Maybe we aren’t as worried about manners and we might even try to multitask and focus on other things while we’re listening to them. We don’t listen as intently because we feel like we know the person well enough to fill in the gaps. So, in essence, we tend to dishonor those we know well in the way we listen.
Now, maybe I’m only talking to myself here, but just in case any of this applies to you, I want to take it one step further. Which way do we communicate with God? Do we honor Him with the way we listen [Psalm 22:23; Isaiah 26:13]? Do we see our time with Him as an opportunity to know Him more [Psalm 100:3; Psalm 135:5; and Jeremiah 33:3]? Or do we feel like we know Him well enough to fill in the gaps?
Somewhere along the way, our society has lost a culture of honor, both with people and with God. We have become casual in everything from our dress to our verbiage. In doing so, I’m afraid we have sacrificed more than we realize.
It is wonderful to feel a familiarity with the Lord. It is a result of spending time with Him. But don’t allow your familiarity with Him cause you to honor Him any less than He deserves [Revelation 5:12]. He desires intimacy with us; however, He never ceases being God. He is the Creator of all things, the Most High God, the King of Kings and the Lord or Lords. Honor Him with all you are and all you do.