1 Peter 2: 9-17
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, 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 men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a coverup for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
A Thought
Every born again believer has become a chosen member of the royal priesthood and are being built into a spiritual body offering praises to God who has called us out of the darkness of sin and into the wonderful light of Christ. We are now the people of God because we have received his mercy. We must learn to live as servants of God abstaining from sinful desires. Though we are aliens and strangers, we must submit to the authorities of this world by doing good, showing respect to everyone and honoring God.
Our Prayer
Heavenly Father we desire to bring glory to you by obeying the laws of our Country. We pray for your wisdom to be given to our Federal, State and Local government that they will make laws that will honor you. Help us to show respect to our officials that others will see your light of love in us. Help us to unite together in faith and love as your believers. We desire to honor you by doing good. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
