Living in the World

Today’s Bible Reading:  2 Kings 20; Isaiah 38-39; Psalm 75; 2 1 Peter 2

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:

Topic: Righteousness

SCRIPTURE:  1 Peter 2:11-17   

    

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. ¹² Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴ or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵ For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. ¹⁶ Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. ¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. (1 Peter 2:11-17 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

Peter here is urging believers on the one hand to not succumb to the pressures to live according to the world’s standards, and on the other hand to submit to the world’s authorities.  On the one hand we are to “abstain from sinful desires” promoted by a world in which we are not to consider ourselves citizens, but “aliens and strangers” (v. 11).  On the other hand we are, “for the Lord’s sake” to submit to “every authority instituted among men” (v. 13).  On the one hand we are to “live as free men,” and on the other hand to “live as servants of God” (v. 16).  On the one hand we are to “fear God,” and on the other hand we are to “honor the king” (the earthly authorities) (v. 17).    

APPLICATION:       

This passage requires an interesting balancing act on the part of devoted followers of Christ which many find difficult today.  How far do we go in defense of righteousness in an unrighteous society?  How much political opposition should we exert to influence change in civic norms of behavior which are becoming increasingly hostile toward Christians?  How meek and compliant are we to be in the face of false accusations lodged against us by those who judge our standards of right living to be an indictment against their contrary values?  How far are we to go in accepting worldly values that fly in the face of what we believe and hold dear as Christ followers?

Verse 15 shows that our strategy ("God's will") is not that we primarily oppose evil, but that we overcome evil by doing good.  Perhaps the key to the balance we need may be found in verse 12:  “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 

PRAYER:

Lord, with Your help may I live my life in such a way as to reach many for You before You return.  And on that Day may I have lived my life in such a way that even those who have been unable to be reached will recognize my actions as having been above reproach.  For Your sake and in Your name I pray.  Amen.  -AP