Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world. (1 Peter 2:11-12 NLT)
Peter is one of these “temporary residents and foreigners,” right along with us. He is fighting the same good fight that we face in his everyday life. He encourages us to walk together with God so that our unbelieving neighbors will see something different in us that is not in the rest of the world.
For the Lord's sake, respect all human authority--whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God's will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king. (1 Peter 2:13-17 NLT)
Peter didn’t live in a democratic republic. In other words, Peter didn’t have the right to vote, the right to participate in the process, and the ability to change the government every two or four years. No, Peter was stuck with whomever was appointed as King (or Emperor). These rulers, during Peter’s lifetime, would enact laws that put Peter and other believers to death for their faith. Yet Peter worked to respect all human authority anyway. How about you? Do you respect human authority, even when you disagree?
You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you--not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He suffered. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. (1 Peter 2:18-25 NLT)
I don’t think Peter was for the institution of slavery. He was in a society where he could not change such things. He was in a society where he would be put to death just for being a Christ-follower. He was for following Christ in all circumstances, though – even when the circumstances are very, very bad. How about you? Do you follow Christ in all circumstances?
In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives. Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:1-7 NLT)
A husband-authoritarian system does not need to stop us from walking together with God. Living a life of love knows no bounds. When wives love unbelieving husbands or husbands love unbelieving wives, the love of God shines through. The unbelieving spouse will recognize that something is changed. Who knows, maybe they will come to follow Christ as well. How about you? Do you love your spouse? Does your love help your spouse see Jesus?
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. (1 Peter 3:8 NLT)
Does this describe you?
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