1 Peter Chapter 2       (ESV)

 

Submission to Authority

¹³ Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor 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 of God. ¹⁷ Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

¹⁸ Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²² He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.²³ When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

 

Reflection

1. None of us likes to be unfairly treated. It is most frustrating when we can’t do anything about it. In this passage, Peter calls for submission even when we are treated unfairly. Peter went on to tell us that we should do what Jesus did when He suffered unjustly. Jesus didn’t retaliate, or hurl insults back at those who insulted Him. What Jesus did was to entrust “Himself to Him who judges justly.”
2. Peter did not always understand that Christ’s disciples should expect to suffer unjustly. When Jesus first announced that the Messiah must suffer and finally die unjustly in Jerusalem, Peter attempted to stop Him. (Matt 16:21-23) But now Peter understands that out of the innocent suffering of the Saviour, God worked out our salvation. The suffering of Jesus was not meaningless; it was permitted that through it good might come. Therefore Peter teaches that if we would commit ourselves into God’s hands, we can be sure that not only justice will be done for us, but also that our suffering will serve the cause of God’s grace.
3. Have you ever experienced unjust treatment or hardship because of following the Lord? Pray for courage to walk “in his steps” even in the face of suffering, today, this week, this month.

 

Prayer & Journaling

Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the “Spiritual Journal” book.