Be Strong In Obedience

I Peter 2: 13-17

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, 

We are to recognize the order of authority that God designed this race of Mankind to operate by, giving order to our relationships. This honors our Lord who decreed it so because He loves us, and doesn't want us to suffer in chaos.

whether to a king as the one in authority, 

Whoever is at the top, whether a king, a president, a premier, a chief; whatever title your society gives to the one who has highest authority. We are to respect the office, even if we don't happen to like the person who holds the title. 

or to governors as sent by him 

These are all the other governmental entities who answer to their higher authority; the legislators, the governors, the judges, the law enforcement officers; everyone else who has authority to tell us what to do or not do, according to the laws of the land. 

for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 

Their duties are two-fold, both negative and positive. We incarcerate criminals and we fine transgressors. We also give medals and awards to exceptional individuals who have given of themselves to benefit others. 

For such is the will of God 

We often ask, "What is God's will?" Well, we have it right here for this. 

that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 

Good always wins over evil, and whatever is going on around us, whether the people in our little worlds are supporting us or working against us, we must still focus on the right, to do what is good and morally right and beneficial for us all. We must shine our light, which is the Light of the Holy Spirit in us, because light always overpowers darkness, chasing it away.  

Act as free men, 

We must not be co-dependent with others, but make the right decision to do what is right, independent of all the evil that is still rising all around us.

and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, 

This is a temptation, knowing we're not like everyone else, to think we're better or not subject to the same rules they are because of our position in Christ. We were just told to submit to all the same laws and rules and precepts that everyone else is to obey, so even if we don't agree, we are still to comply with every rule that doesn't actually go against God's laws. Even if it's inconvenient. 

but use it as bondslaves of God. 

We are to act as servants of the highest righteousness. In the society this letter was written to, the position of a "bondslave" was the lowest rung of the ladder. Bondslaves had no will of their own, but were bound to the will of their master. 

We are bound to the will of our good Father in Heaven, and are to conform our wills to what He wants for us, trusting that His Love will permit only what is good for us, and to our benefit.  

Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. 

This sums up this whole paragraph. We are to honor all people, because we are all made in the image of God. It doesn't matter that some people have twisted and marred that image, God still loves them as He has loved us, and wants them to be saved.

We are to love the brotherhood, to want what will benefit our brothers and sisters in the Lord the most, regardless of what it will cost us. 

We are to fear God, be sure to give God the reverential respect He deserves as our Master and Lord, our Owner and our Teacher. And remember He is also our Father and Brother and Bridegroom. 

And honor the king, who represents the whole structure of human governmental authority over us, that gives order to our society and makes it possible for us to live our lives in quietness and peace, honestly expressing the godliness God is building in us, because that is how He wants us to live our lives (I Timothy 2:2-3). 

O my Father, Your plans are so good! Your design of this Universe, and the Earth You made for us, are all so beautiful and runs so smoothly, like a well-oiled machine. And Your Spirit is the oil! 

But we humans have gathered into our communities and formed our societies, vulnerable to the schemes of the enemy who only wants to kill, steal, and destroy. So many of the parts of our living together here have become twisted and turned upside-down, so much so that many think that it is "normal." And the pressure on Your children can be very great to conform to the World's ways.

But, Father, You want us to be the salt in our society. You want us to be the Light, revealing and curing and healing the rotten places that harm us as a society. This takes Your strength, when the World pushes against us. 

Father, when we feel like we're storming the very gates of Hell, may we be wearing Your armor, wielding Your weapons, faithfully, in the strength and courage of Your Spirit. And when all is done, we will be standing!

O Father, keep us standing, though we are battle-scarred. Our Lord, our Commander-in Chief, bears the scars of His victory! My we also bear our scars proudly, in the confidence of Your victory through us! 

O Father, my Father, hold us in Your hand! Strengthen all of Your children, find all Your lost sheep, gather us all into Your One Fold with One Shepherd. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!