Returning Respect to the Women in My Life — Part 6

I’ve come to see something sobering: when I withhold respect from the women in my life, I don’t just fail them — as a Christian, I misrepresent Christ.

That’s a hard fact but true.

For too long, I lived in my head. I thought respect was a nice idea, something I could agree with on paper. But in practice, I often minimized, dismissed, or stayed silent. I failed to honor women as Christ does. And when I did that, I wasn’t representing Jesus. I was distorting the truth about Him.

How Jesus Treated Women

The more I read the gospels with fresh eyes, the clearer it becomes: Jesus consistently lifted women up.

He stopped to listen to them.
He healed them.
He gave them dignity in a culture that often overlooked them.
He traveled with them as an important part of His team.
He counted on their financial support for His ministry. (Luke 8:1-3)
He entrusted women with His message — even making them the first witnesses to His resurrection.

Jesus never treated women as less than anyone. He treated them as essential to the Kingdom. So when I’ve treated women with suspicion, silence, or indifference, I haven’t just failed them — I’ve failed to reflect Christ.

Why Respect Matters

Respect isn’t optional for men who claim to follow Christ. It’s not just about “being nice.” It’s about discipleship. It’s about being a witness.

If my faith is real, it should be visible in how I treat women. My respect should not be hidden in theory — it should be lived out in heart-felt action. Paul put it plainly: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

That verse doesn’t call for casual affection. It calls for sacrifice. For honor. For love that costs everything.

And if that’s true in marriage, it’s true in the Body of Christ. Every woman deserves to be treated with that same Christlike respect. Brothers, we should greet every woman as if we were greeting Christ.

My Confession and My Promise

So here’s my confession:
When I withheld respect, I misrepresented Jesus. I spoke of Him with my lips, but I didn’t reflect Him with my life.

And here’s my promise:
From this point forward, I want my respect for women to be an unmistakable reflection of Christ. I want the way I listen, speak, and act to line up with the Jesus I claim to follow.

Why This Matters

The world is watching how men of faith treat women. Respect isn’t just about me and the women in my life. It’s about Jesus and the priceless image of God He placed in every human being. Let us not settle for lives ruled by the limitations of the head. Instead, let us be men (and women) of action, driven by the truth hidden in our hearts and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Remember, the head is a valuable servant, but it must bow to the heart, where God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit reside, to take action.

The next time resistance whispers to you, lean into your heart. Trust the truth God has planted there. Step out in faith, confident that the Spirit will guide and empower you every step of the way.

As Psalm 119:11 reminds us, when the Word is hidden in our hearts, it becomes the foundation for a life outside ourselves but one of obedience, courage, and purpose. Let us live as men whose hearts are led by the Spirit, whose actions reflect God’s truth, and whose lives glorify Him.