Living as Servants of God (1Peter 2:13-17)

LIVING AS SERVANTS OF GOD (1Peter 2:13-17):

After writing the importance of having good conduct amid gentiles, Peter continues that the believers need to subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake. We cannot expect the obliged institutions, supreme emperors who rule over us and the governors who are responsible for rules and regulations where we live, to be righteous throughout by leading us upright or fair because of various reasons. As human beings, they are susceptible to their weaknesses. The believers had come to the knowledge of God and known the valuable paths of life though they can’t expect everyone to be good to them. The Believers are always expected to be good to everyone, not only to those who are right but also to those who are wrong. Because believers do nothing for selfish gain or glory but do everything for glorifying God. The authorities have every power to punish those who do wrong or convicted as wrong in the presence of others, as well as the authorities have equal power to praise those who do good or seen to do good in the presence of others. The Lord has appointed them as the people had desired them to be in that position or by His own eternal purpose. 

Peter also gives another view for the Elect to be good in conduct in the sight of gentiles. God’s plan and purpose are completely different from that of Man’s thoughts and ways. Man has finite outlook but God’s views are vast and complete. God is all righteous and all-loving. He balances the act of his righteousness and His will by telling the people who had known Him to endure all the sufferings and dislikes of the ignorant people. The Will of God is that everyone should live a worthy, joyful, and peaceful life knowing the values and virtues of life in God. When the believers are subjecting themselves to the righteous standards of God, they could put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Every believer has freedom in God and they have all rights to enjoy the benefits and privileges that God has bestowed to them. But still, they should not justify unfair acts and the acts of their likes or dislikes. They should not use the Freedom to cover up their evil intentions of the heart, for God judges the thoughts and our hearts. We are free in God as we are liberated from the evilness of our own nature and world, but we need to still practice being servants of God, as the master alone can lead us right always. Peter concludes many of the above verses he had written by saying to honor everyone which is unconditional without any discrimination, and every believer ought to do that for a fellow human being. The believers could relate in a Godly fashion only with fellow brothers thereby Peter says, ’love the brotherhood’. When the believers Fear God, they will ultimately honor the emperor as it is the Will of God that they are elected or selected.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection

1.     To whom should the believers subject?

2.      For what the authorities were sent by God?

3.      Why it is necessary for the believers to submit to authorities?

4.      How will the believers put to silence the ignorance of foolish people?

5.      As believers, how we can live?

6.      How believers are supposed to use their freedom?

7.      What do you mean by living as servants of God? Why do we need to live like that?

8.      What are the things Believers supposed to do?

9.      Is it possible to honor everyone? How?

10.  How we can honor our emperor (s)?