A Scout is Reverent
Text: Hebrews 5:7-9
Date: February 5, 2012 Scout Sunday
Pastor Ron Baker, West Union Christian Church of Christ
“Leading People to Life’s True Purpose and Joy in Christ”
INTRODUCTION
This is Scout Sunday, and I am so glad to have our scouts here with us today. I love the scouting program because of what it stands for and for what the children can learn from being a part of it.
The scout oath is . . . On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
The Boy Scout Law
A Scout is:
• Trustworthy,
• Loyal,
• Helpful,
• Friendly,
• Courteous,
• Kind,
• Obedient,
• Cheerful,
• Thrifty,
• Brave,
• Clean,
• and Reverent.
The Boy Scout Motto is . . . Be Prepared!
The Boy Scout Slogan is . . . Do a Good Turn Daily.
This morning I want to speak to you about one of the twelve points of the Boy Scout Law. I want to help you better understand what it means to be reverent. I hope this message will especially be beneficial for our scouts as well as for everyone who is here with us today.
The word “reverent” means to be very respectful.
The scripture text that I want to use this morning is Hebrews 5:7-10
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
This is the scene at Gethsemane where Jesus Christ suffered great anguish anticipating the terrible death upon a cruel Roman cross where He would become our sacrifice for sin. Our Lord offered up prayers and wept bitterly under the weight of what He had to bear.
Jesus Christ lifted up loud cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission to God.
The first point that I want to make this morning is that we need to . . .
1. Revere the people of God
Exodus 20:12 says that we are to honor and revere our parents. This is the right thing to do.
Romans 12:10 tells us to “be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
This is a great principle for relationships. If more people would revere or respect other people above themselves, more people would get along better with each other.
What is most common in our world today is selfishness, pride, and arrogance. The truth is most people live very selfish lives, thinking only of themselves instead of others. People seldom ever think of how they could sacrificially please others or how they could please God with their lives.
1Timothy 5:17 tells us that “the elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.”
The apostle Paul said that the Lord’s servants who take the responsibility of leading the Lord’s church by teaching and preaching deserve honor and reverence.
2. Revere the places of God
Luke 19:45-46 Then he (Jesus) entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; {Isaiah 56:7} but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" {Jeremiah 7:11}
Our Lord Jesus Christ was angry with those who were taking advantage of people’s circumstances and cheating them out of their money in a holy place that was designated as a house of prayer.
Like our Lord, we too need to respect our church buildings which are designated places of worship and prayer to God. We need to maintain the church property and do that in a way that would honor the Lord. Whatever we do for the Lord should be our best effort.
3. Revere the things of God
It would be good for all of us to revere the Ten Commandments that God gave His chosen people at Mt. Sinai. Our moral law code is founded upon these laws of God. They are . . .
1) You shall have no other gods before me
2) You shall not make for yourself an idol
3) You shall not misuse the name of the Lord you God
4) Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
5) Honor your father and your mother
6) You shall not murder
7) You shall not commit adultery
8) You shall not steal
9) You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor
10) You shall not covet what your neighbor has
At Matthew 22:34 we read that Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment in the Law, and Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Our Lord summed up the Law of God by saying love the Lord your God above everything else and love each other as much as you love yourself.
4. Revere God above all things
Proverbs 3:9 “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops”;
This proverb tells us that we are to revere God above everything else. He deserves our gifts, our tithes, and our offerings. But most of all He deserves our hearts. We should strive to please the Lord with our lives above everything else.
At Hebrews 5:9 it says that Jesus Christ is the source of eternal salvation for all who will obey and come to Him by faith to be saved.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
The only way to receive God’s forgiveness and be made right with God is through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Because of your sin you deserve eternal condemnation, but by the grace of God you can receive mercy and forgiveness through the blood of Christ.
Our God deserves worship and reverence for no other reason than because of who He is.
Revelation 4:11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
But we also know that our great Creator God made a way for us to be forgiven of our sins and covered by the precious blood of Christ.
Revelation 5:12-13 “In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"
