Devotion 24 April 2026

Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2: 17

READING: 1 Peter 2: 13-17

Peter is writing this letter to those Christians who have been exiled or sojourned within the Roman Empire and yet it is very relevant in society today.

We are at first called to submit to human authority: this is a call to civil obedience. Charles Swindoll said, “Our problem is not understanding what submission means. Our problem is doing what it says.” Submission has become a “bad word”. But it is a biblical word. God commands us to submit. The grammar indicates willing subjection, not coerced submission. Verse 13 says it is “For the Lord’s sake”. So, we are called to obey the law for the Lord’s sake.

It does not say we have to agree with what our government does. It does not say we have to like the policies that govern us. It does not say we have to respect the person who holds office. The goal of government should be to foster a just society. And we should be submissive. God is a God of order. And order requires submission.

We are also tasked to submit to follow the Lord’s example, to be ambassadors for Christ upon the earth. How we interact with the world around us is a reflection of Jesus to non-believers. Charles Wright & the 103^rd Street Band sung: “It’s not what you look like, when you’re doing what you’re doing. It’s what you’re doing when you’re doing what you look like you doing.” Freedom is not free. Liberty is not license. Freedom from sin is not freedom to sin. Peter says use your freedom as servants of God. What a paradox! Free people are bondservants of God. Liberty is found in joyful obedience to God.

The last verse teaches us the priority of cultural engagement, of relationships. We do not change society through political campaigns, elections, or agendas. We make a difference by treating people the way Christ commands.

Peter says honor is owed to everyone. We are to highly esteem all people. People may dishonor you because of your faith in Christ. Do not reciprocate their disrespect. It does not matter if they do not look like us, think like us, or live like us. Honor everyone – no matter their ethnicity, gender, or status, religion, or identity – because every person is created in the image of God and every person is a soul for whom Christ died.

As we honor everyone, we have a higher obligation to one another. We must love the brotherhood or the family of God. But we are to fear God. If you do not fear God, you will not honor everyone or love the brotherhood. The fear of God is the fear of divine displeasure, not the fear of cataclysmic wrath. It is reverence for the holiness of God. Fear God alone. To fear God is to fear nothing else.

Prayer

Almighty Father, today, I submit myself to You.

Amen