Bible a Reading: 2 Chron. 19; 1 Thes. 4:1-10.
“He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:8 (KJV)
When we were young, we used to make jest of some people particularly in the way they walked, dressed or even talked. Then in my junior school days, I had a teacher who was walking with one of his shoulders raised higher than the other. I joined others to make jest of him and I ended up walking like him! How I ended up this way still amazes me today given that my father was a disciplinarian.
Beside the self imposed deformity that I gave to myself through jest, I lacked understanding at that time because the word of God says in 1 Thessalonians 4:8 (KJV), “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.” So, I was despising God while I thought I was despising the man!
How often do you despise God? When you abuse that man on account of his deformity; physical, mental, emotional etc., you are despising him and God. And if we despise God, we cannot go to the same father for answer to our prayers!
Despising men is in different dimensions. It could be on account of his poverty because you are well to do, or mental capability (where you are of a higher IQ), physical deformity ( when you appear to be physically whole); infertility ( because you have children) or even faith ( because you have stronger faith). If you see anyone that is not as endowed as you are, thank God for His grace upon you and pray for that individual asking God to correct any anomaly in his life.
Whatever area you are guilty of, remember that we are all made in the image of the Almighty God; our creator. Please call on God today to forgive you and make a promise never to despise anyone anymore.
Prayer: Father have mercy on me in every area I have despised you.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero