Monday, May 16, 2005
1 Peter 2:11-17
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (ESV)
by Nick Kersten
Peter reminds us of our true citizenship in heaven (Philipians 3:20) and how that should translate to our earthly activities. Because we are aliens on this earth in Christ, we are free from the political strife that binds so many. In that freedom, we are expected to submit to the authorities on this earth, not because they are necessarily correct, but because we know that we hold citizenship in a land where justice reigns. Peter was quick to point out that submitting to the authorities is a powerful witnessing tool for the Lord—one that should not be overlooked in any era.
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2008, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service .
