The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Peter 2:13-17,
"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."
Here is good apostolic direction for us believers today. Peter tells us to submit ourselves to the civil authorities. We are to "show proper respect" to them, to "honor" them.
In case you were not aware of it, the Roman emperor Nero blamed Christians for the "Great Fire of Rome" in 64AD, about the time Peter wrote this letter. He was no friend of the young church, and yet Peter recognized God's desire for believers to submit to these very authorities.
Paul explains why in Romans 13:1-6, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing."
You mean to say the current culprit in the White House or the governor's mansion is someone God wants me to honor, to obey, to submit to? This is exactly what Peter and Paul tell us as apostles of Jesus Christ!
I may not like the authorities, I may not agree with them, but we are not asked to. We are asked to honor and obey them. I am reminded of what Jesus taught in this regard, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." Mark 12:17.
God has established civil authority and we are to honor and obey it. As we live among the lost in this life we should work toward those things God would be pleased with, say for instance, participating in eliminating the practice of abortion, to influence society, etc. Yet, as we do so, we don't want to forget what both Peter and Paul had to say in our engagement with civil authority.
I think we find a hint as to why this is so important when Peter says, "For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people." The promulgation of the gospel has always been the chief assignment to the church by the Lord. We see this pointed to in many ways in the New Testament writings. The church is not to get side-tracked or create unneeded disruptions as it takes the gospel to the people. The offense of the gospel is quite enough offense on its own.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"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."
Here is good apostolic direction for us believers today. Peter tells us to submit ourselves to the civil authorities. We are to "show proper respect" to them, to "honor" them.
In case you were not aware of it, the Roman emperor Nero blamed Christians for the "Great Fire of Rome" in 64AD, about the time Peter wrote this letter. He was no friend of the young church, and yet Peter recognized God's desire for believers to submit to these very authorities.
Paul explains why in Romans 13:1-6, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing."
You mean to say the current culprit in the White House or the governor's mansion is someone God wants me to honor, to obey, to submit to? This is exactly what Peter and Paul tell us as apostles of Jesus Christ!
I may not like the authorities, I may not agree with them, but we are not asked to. We are asked to honor and obey them. I am reminded of what Jesus taught in this regard, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." Mark 12:17.
God has established civil authority and we are to honor and obey it. As we live among the lost in this life we should work toward those things God would be pleased with, say for instance, participating in eliminating the practice of abortion, to influence society, etc. Yet, as we do so, we don't want to forget what both Peter and Paul had to say in our engagement with civil authority.
I think we find a hint as to why this is so important when Peter says, "For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people." The promulgation of the gospel has always been the chief assignment to the church by the Lord. We see this pointed to in many ways in the New Testament writings. The church is not to get side-tracked or create unneeded disruptions as it takes the gospel to the people. The offense of the gospel is quite enough offense on its own.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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