"R" Words

I was distracted this morning by a dictionary.
A big, four-inch-thick, old Websters Dictionary.
Its cover is falling off, the binding exposed.
But I love it. I love the feel; how it is a heavy volume. I love its pages; how they have gilded edges. I love all the words; the bold print letters, the pronunciation tips, the tidy arrangement.
Thus, a distraction.

But the reason I turned to the book was that I had to look up and write out a definition of a word for a devotional book I was going through.
The word was "revere". While I know what that means, I was instructed to look it up and write down the official definition.
There is power in the written word. Your brain not only reads it but processes it - as you read, as you write, and as you reread what you wrote.
The words get into your head.
But this is where I became further distracted.
Within the definition of the word "revere", was another word.
And that one, I wasn't overly confident about.
Websters says that revere means "to regard with affectionate awe or veneration".
So, after perusing the "r" words, I journeyed to the "v" section.

Veneration:
"To worship as holy; to regard with deepest respect."

I should explain that what also sent me to "revere" was a quote by G.K. Beale ~
"We resemble what we revere, either for our ruin or restoration."

A lot of  "r" words in that quote.
And it begs some questions as to the state of our hearts and minds.
When we resemble something, we look like it, or act like it. We reflect it, in a sense.
When we revere something, we hold it with great affection and awe.
And this is where the impact hits.
Ruin or restoration.
A fork in the road.
The path you end up on depends on what you revere.
It is such a crucial piece of life.
Do you revere wealth?
Do you revere people?
Do you revere material things?
Do you revere people's opinions about you?
Do you revere popular opinions?
Do you revere God?
What do you regard with deepest respect?

Choose to resemble God. ~ Be the one who looks like someone that has spent time with Jesus.
Choose to revere God. ~ Acknowledge the sovereign power and love of God.
Choose to repent. ~ The kind that goes beyond the feeling of regret and deep into beautiful surrender.
Choose to return. ~ Turn your eyes to God, your heart to Him first.
Choose to rebuild. ~ Move forward in His Word, His love, His forgiveness. Foundational truths.
Choose restoration, not ruin.

For what you revere, you resemble.

"Teach me Your ways, Lord, that I may walk in Your truth; let me wholeheartedly revere Your Name." (Psalm 86:11, ISV)