SCRIPTURE
Acts 23:5 - "Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people'.""


OBSERVATION
Paul is treated unjustly, and when he responds angrily in self - defense, he is told that he is talking to the High Priest. At that point, he apologizes and refers to a part of the law that God gave the Jews in Exodus 22:28 which instructs the people not to blaspheme God or to curse the rulers of the people, which means to not speak disrespectfully about or to them.


APPLICATION
This is an interesting scripture because it instructs us that no matter how wrong authority may be sometimes, it is still right before God to respect them - note that we are not called to agree with them if they are involved in sin - but that our communication of them should be with respect for the office of authority that they hold. How many times have we given in to the tendency to be disrespectful just because we perhaps felt that before God, we were right? This would be a sin of the attitude of our hearts. It is possible to disagree and even disapprove and rebuke with an attitude that communicates respect.

PRAYER
Lord, reveal our heart motives to us when we sway towards the all too common tendency to show disrespect, towards whoever it may be. Help us to always remember to respond in situations where we may not agree with somebody else, or even feel that what they are doing is wrong, with attitudes of graciousness and respect. Help us to be able to speak the truth in love.