Free to serve God
November 20, 2022
The Apostle Peter reminds us of our high status in (2:9) we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession. We do indeed have a high status in the sight of God. In our passage this week we discover that this privilege is the power we require for humble service. Following Jesus example, we look to the one who constrained himself, serving us, becoming human and dying for us. He served us that we might be free. Free to serve God. As we throw off sinful passions and endeavour to be model citizens, we testify to the world that God is good. Our witness even in the face of hostility is that we love this world and yet it is not our home. Ours is the kingdom. His kingdom and we wait patiently for his visitation.
Stephen Morrison
In this series:
1 Peter 2:11–17 (Listen)
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Submission to Authority
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,1 whether it be to the emperor2 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 servants3 of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Footnotes
[1] 2:13
[2] 2:13
[3] 2:16
(ESV)
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.
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