What does it mean to be Reverent?

The twelfth point of the Boy Scout law is a scout is reverent. But who does a scout show reverence to? A scout is reverent to God or reveres God. Ps 111:9 says "He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and reverend is His name." The 1911 Boy Scouts of America handbook states "A scout is reverent. He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom or religion." Noah Webster in his 1828 dictionary lists reverence as "expressing reverence, veneration or submission." As Christians it is our duty to submit to what God calls us to do no matter what He may ask. The word reverence has two Hebraic root words Yare (yaw-ray) and Shachah (shaw-khaw) which translated mean the "fear of God" and "falling down prostrate". When they are combined they specifically mean demonstrating our respect and fear of God by acknowledging His supremacy as our creator. This next quote is from the 1911 Boy Scouts of America Handbook: "A Boy Scout's Religion" "The Boy Scouts of America maintain that no boy can grow into the best kind of citizenship without recognizing his obligation to God. The first part of the Boy Scout's oath or pledge is therefore: "I promise on my honor to do my best to honor my God and my country." The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe, and the grateful acknowledgement of His favors and blessings is necessary to the best type of citizenship and is a wholesome thing in the education of the growing boy." Hebrews 12:28 says "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe." As scouts and as Christians we have a direct duty to be reverent to God not just to show up to church services and "do the motions" so to speak but, both inwardly and outwardly to walk in God's everlasting love. We also need to realize that being reverent to God is not just praying or reading the Holy Scriptures but, as our Scout Motto says "doing a good turn daily". In other words to take every chance that you have to show God's love to others by doing small or big things to help others. Showing our reverence to God should be seen in our dealings with others.

-David N. Tarantino