Verse of the Day 8/11

Verse of the Day 8/11

1 Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. New King James Version (NKJV)

We reviewed this passage in 1 Peter in our men's Bible study on Monday. Verse 1 begins with Peter calling on his readers to be subject to "every human institution". For us today that would include our President, Congress, judges and local officials including police. It is a far cry from what you see going on in the streets today. Peter goes on to say that we are to do good and by doing so to bring about praise and this can lead to change. It should be noted that this book was written by Peter while the people were under the tyrannical oppression of Emperor Nero who burned down the city of Rome for personal/political reasons.

I like how the New King James and other older translations handle the verse, breaking it down to several 2 or 3 word statements, in essence, saying this: Honor all people, period. Love the brotherhood, period. Fear God, period. Honor the king, period. What kind of change would be brought about in our society, in our cities if Christians would take this to heart and apply it in our lives?

We do have a lot of freedoms, not only here but even in oppressive societies. As Christians; Christ followers; it starts with the freedom to good to all people, starting with the brotherhood of faith.

Thomas Guthrie writes, " We should certainly attempt always . . .
to follow Jesus,
to walk as He walked,
to speak as He spoke,
to think as He thought, and
to mold our whole conduct and life on the pattern that He has left us.
Yet our best attempts will leave us more and more convinced that our only hope for redemption, salvation, and forgiveness, lies in the mercy of the Father, and the merits of the Son."

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

1 Peter 2:13-17 English Standard Version (ESV)

Submission to Authority
13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,[a] whether it be to the emperor[b]as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[c] of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.