"Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." (1 Peter 2:11–17 NKJV)Entitlement has become an epidemic in our land. We no longer live as sojourners and pilgrims. The lusts of our souls have caused us to forget that this is not our home. We have lost sight of our mission, to manifest the glory of our Father:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16 NKJV)
We are not here to loose our cool with tech support. We are not here to chew out the customer service rep when we feel our cell rates are too high or our overage charges are unfair. The way we carry ourselves before unbelievers matters. Our mission is to manifest the goodness of God in our words and actions so they may give glory to God on the day He returns in the clouds of glory. And because of our mission, the exhortation of Scripture is:
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." (1 Peter 2:13–17 NKJV)
This is truly a high calling… to honor all people! Even those who are taking advantage of us? Even Corporate America with all her greed and lust? Even the government which seems to be ever tightening the belt of control and meddling in the personal liberties of Americans everywhere?
But how do we stand for justice justly? How do we live humbly without becoming the people others walk over? Is there a balance between honoring officials and defending the victims of injustice? There is. It's not always easy to see. But it is always about the glory of God and honoring others.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I may honor all people. Cause me to submit myself to every ordinance of man for Your sake. For Your glory Lord Jesus. If I ever must go against the law of the land, let it only be because it goes against Your law.
Change my attitude toward those who call asking for my money. Teach me to be kind but committed to what I believe in. I don't have to be rude or unkind. Help me to realize there is a person with a family on the other end of the line. It may be a single mother or father. It may be a young college kid just trying to get ahead. It might be a retiree who has lost his spouse and is grieving and just working to keep himself distracted from the sorrow and loss.
Jesus, You and I know it is all about people. Give me Your heart Lord Jesus so I may live as a Son of the King in these last days. O Jesus I ask for Your heart for me and our church and this valley. Pour out Your Holy Spirit I pray.
