Cornerstone Church,
1 Peter 2:11-18 (NKJV) 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 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. 13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 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. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-- 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
Imagine being a slave. Most early church Christians were slaves. Slavery was a reality. We are long time removed from a slave culture. We don’t often think of ourselves as slaves. However, the Bible says that we are either a slave to sin, or a servant of God.
Imagine being a pilgrim. Peter addresses us as pilgrims and sojourners. Outcasts. Foreigners. Strangers in a strange land. Belonging to one world while residing in another.
As Christians we are people of God. We live, however, here on earth. How we live is the topic of Peter’s letter to believers. He gives some very short and to the point instructions.
1. Abstain from fleshly lusts.
2. Have conduct honorable among the Gentiles.
3. Submit to every ordinance.
4. Honor all people.
5. Love the Brotherhood.
And 6. Honor the King.
Not 10 Commandments, but 6. Rules to live by as we live out our days here.
We find purpose in these principles. The first purpose is found in verse 12. “Before the Gentiles.” Our conduct is always on display before non-believers. We are called to live honorably for the sake of the lost. That they may glorify God on the day of visitation.
The second purpose in these principles is that we submit to ordinances for the “Lord’s sake” (vs 13) We follow the laws of this world for the sake of the Lord of the next. Honoring earthly kings is our way of honoring the King of kings.
The third purpose in these principles is that it is to be for the way of life. We are bondservants to God. Voluntary slaves (Exodus 21:1-6) Christ purchased us with His blood from our enslavement to the sins of this world in order to send us right back into this world as servants of God. Set free from slavery, just to be sent back to serve a different Master in the same workplace. Our work, however has new meaning. It has new purpose. Our work now has eternal rewards!
Let’s make it our goal to take on a servant attitude this week. May we serve the Lord by serving the lost!
- Pastor Joel Johns
1 Peter 2:11-18 (NKJV) 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 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. 13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 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. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-- 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
Imagine being a slave. Most early church Christians were slaves. Slavery was a reality. We are long time removed from a slave culture. We don’t often think of ourselves as slaves. However, the Bible says that we are either a slave to sin, or a servant of God.
Imagine being a pilgrim. Peter addresses us as pilgrims and sojourners. Outcasts. Foreigners. Strangers in a strange land. Belonging to one world while residing in another.
As Christians we are people of God. We live, however, here on earth. How we live is the topic of Peter’s letter to believers. He gives some very short and to the point instructions.
1. Abstain from fleshly lusts.
2. Have conduct honorable among the Gentiles.
3. Submit to every ordinance.
4. Honor all people.
5. Love the Brotherhood.
And 6. Honor the King.
Not 10 Commandments, but 6. Rules to live by as we live out our days here.
We find purpose in these principles. The first purpose is found in verse 12. “Before the Gentiles.” Our conduct is always on display before non-believers. We are called to live honorably for the sake of the lost. That they may glorify God on the day of visitation.
The second purpose in these principles is that we submit to ordinances for the “Lord’s sake” (vs 13) We follow the laws of this world for the sake of the Lord of the next. Honoring earthly kings is our way of honoring the King of kings.
The third purpose in these principles is that it is to be for the way of life. We are bondservants to God. Voluntary slaves (Exodus 21:1-6) Christ purchased us with His blood from our enslavement to the sins of this world in order to send us right back into this world as servants of God. Set free from slavery, just to be sent back to serve a different Master in the same workplace. Our work, however has new meaning. It has new purpose. Our work now has eternal rewards!
Let’s make it our goal to take on a servant attitude this week. May we serve the Lord by serving the lost!
- Pastor Joel Johns
Posted in Sermon Devotionals
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