Submit, Respect, and Honor

 "Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."

— 1 Peter 2:13-17

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

These exiles were living in a hostile environment where non-believers called them evildoers and accused them of all kinds of immoral behavior. The Roman government tolerated them as a sect of Judaism but would soon begin persecuting them for centuries. Peter's instructions were to submit to the governing authorities set in place by the Lord, to do good so that ignorant talk of foolish people would be silenced, to respect everyone properly, love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, and honor the king.

Lord, for me today, two millennia later, the call for civil obedience remains. You are the one who places governing authorities in office. The role of government is clear: to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. I do not have to agree with or like those in authority over me, but I am called to submit to them and to honor the office they hold unless or until they require me to do something that violates my faith or to disobey God. Acts 5:29 emphasizes this point, "Peter and the other apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than human beings."

My submission to every human authority is for the Lord's sake. For I cannot understand how to properly be over the things that God wants me to be over until I learn to be under those things that God has set over me. In my freedom, I am not to use that freedom as a way to disguise evil intention. I am to use my freedom to serve and love others.

 Lord Jesus, today may I show proper respect to everyone—even those I don't like or agree with, especially governing authorities. Today may I truly love the family of believers—all of them—not just my immediate circle. Today may I truly fear God, not fearful of His wrath, but fearful of divine displeasure. Today may I give honor to those in elected office over our land.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen! 

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