It is not often that a tweet inspires me, but that is exactly what happened in the past week. Ethan Kader posted a tweet that really got my wheels turning. “Men were knighted on their knees. Husbands drop to one knee to propose. And we bow our heads to pray. It is in accordance with the mysterious & invisible law of God that we lower ourselves at the precise moment of our highest possible honor.” Our knees are one of the most important parts of our body when it comes to our masculinity, to our faith.
The act of bending the knee is called genuflection. Genuflection has a specific way at which it should be accomplished. In western culture, one drops to the left knee when showing respect to another human. To the right knee for religious persons and activities, such as showing respect to a bishop or receiving a sacrament. It was a little different in its origins, and I will touch on that in a minute, because the ancient way is the point I need to make.
Obviously, we no longer bend the knee to those we respect, but we shake their hands, firmly men, firmly. It is a sign of respect and worth. My grandfather always told me that a man was only as good as his word. He also told me that when you give a man your word, you look him in the eye and shake his hand. The sign of respect is also a sealing of a promise, of a deal of good faith, your morals, your values, and value is determined in a handshake.
Back to the knee, therefore a man gets down on his knee to propose to his girlfriend. It is a sign of respect for her. Something that every husband should have for his wife. If you do not, fix it. It is the showing of faith and trust, in love and respect to your woman, it shows your intention from the beginning. It is you giving your word. Therefore, I preach vetting potential spouses to men and women. If you cannot approach your woman on these grounds, you have nothing to offer her from the beginning. I do not advocate divorce, even though I am divorced. Sound hypocritical? Sure, but I can hold my head up high knowing that I brought honor to myself all the way to very end. I did not end the relationship, and I kept my word. A man is only as good as his word, right? A woman is only as good as hers as well. It is a standard I apply to every person, and so should you.
Another instance of bending the knee in modern times. Have you ever been to a military funeral? Once the flag has been removed from the coffin and folded. An officer will deliver it to the next of kin. When he approaches them, he does not just hand it over, he goes down on his knee to present it. Again, it is a sign of respect. It is a physical act that we have gotten away from. One I personally think should be brought back. There are many men and women that deserve our highest praise, and our utmost respect. I believe the knee should be kept for the highest honor. Know a soldier that gave a body part, or left part of his mind on the battlefield? He or she, deserves your utmost respect. They did that for you.
In ancient times, one would bow down on both knees, and this is the point I want to make. We serve a mighty and ancient God. A God that deserves our utmost respect, a God that deserves for us to bend our knees when we approach Him. Obviously, I am speaking about prayer. I know many people that tell me, oh I talk to God while driving down the road, or I sit on the stump in the woods and chat with him like he is an old friend. While I am not condemning that practice in any way, I submit to you, that it is not enough. Did you know the bible hints at the idea that we should be praying multiple times a day? Do you even pray at least once a day Christian? I mean really pour out your sin and troubles to your creator?
God deserves the respect of you bending your knee to him. If you are not in the practice already, perhaps it is time to form a new habit. Talking to God as an old friend is nice. But when is the last time that you approached Him as creator of the universe? Of time and space? Of this world, and of you. As the one that decided rather you get to go on breathing, or if you draw your last breath? When is the last time you approached your God in complete humility, in fear of His majesty, and with respect due to no others but Him? If not recently, you should. Afterall, you are going to have to do it sooner or later, it is probably better that you do it sooner. After all of heaven and all of the dead do it already. Do you fancy yourself better than them?
Philippians 2:10-11
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth; And to every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Padre
You can find Padre here on Twitter,
For his own website and podcast check Linktree
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