Triumph Over Trials - 1 and 2 PeterSample

Fear God & Honor the King

Read: 1 Peter 2:13-17

SOAP: 1 Peter 2:15-16

For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves.

Into the Text

It is important to note that during the time Peter wrote 1 & 2 Peter, the Roman emperor was Nero, an evil ruler who had a reputation for cruelly putting Christians to death. In fact, Peter himself would soon be killed by this evil emperor. Yet, it is in this context that Peter writes this letter, which shines as a beacon of guidance and hope.

As followers of Christ, we are called to a life of submission - first to Christ and then to the authorities placed over us, as long as the laws don’t contradict God’s Word. Consider Daniel and his friends in Babylon (Daniel 1:8-21), who respectfully declined to defile themselves with the king’s food. They were able to find the balance of honoring God without dishonoring the king. They obeyed God without being rebellious, and their faithfulness brought glory to God.

Our lives should echo the same commitment: obey the governing authorities unless doing so would require disobedience to God. We should not only seek our personal well-being but also earnestly work for the good in the place where we live (Jeremiah 29:7). This is not just compliance; it’s a mission. It’s one way our daily lives can bring glory to God.

Our freedom in Christ is not a license for selfish gain; it’s an opportunity to be used to bless others (Galatians 5:13). We build up, not tear down, modeling ourselves after the humility of Nehemiah, who leveraged his position not for personal comfort but to rebuild Jerusalem’s broken walls and to restore the hope of his people (Nehemiah 2; 4; 6-9).

Sweet friends, we are to be accountable to God and devoted to serving others, whether in times of peace or persecution. We are to be ambassadors of Christ’s love in whatever corner of the world God has placed us.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, in a world that often opposes You, grant me the strength to live honorably and the wisdom to navigate the balance of obeying You and the authorities You have placed over me. Help me to use the freedom I have in You to bless and build up others, reflecting Your love and grace wherever I am. Amen.