Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. I Peter 2:17 NKJV
It was as if these words knocked me down.
I’d been praying for hours.
Wrestling with circumstances which I simply couldn’t find the answer to.
Not even sure how God would want me to pray.
I went to the scripture.
This is the answer.
“Honor all people.” 1 Peter 2:17a
To be honoring to all people requires a purposeful attitude.
It begins in the heart, where our attitudes towards others become our actions.
Because actions will always follow our attitudes.
“Love the brotherhood.” 1 Peter 2:17b
How sad that we don’t do this automatically.
Yet, as followers of Christ we don’t always see things the same and it can cause friction, pain, and loss.
Each of us is commanded to love each other, no matter the differences.
“Fear God.” 1 Peter 2:17c
This is the key to unlocking it all.
If we don’t fear God nothing we try to do will be effective.
It is only through our personal relationship daily with God Almighty which gives us the ability to walk in honoring others, loving the brethren, and honoring authority.
Through God alone do we find all that we lack.
He supplies our needs, heals our hearts, forgives our sins, and loves us unconditionally.
Out of this relationship we are then able to love each other, honor people, and authority.
“Honor the king.” 1 Peter 2:17d
Nope, it’s not always easy to honor those in leadership.
But we honor and fear God when we honor the authority He has placed over us.
Yes, history is riddled with those who have clearly called what is evil good.
One can easily point to history where the authority was not fearing God nor honoring people and some action had to take place.
Yet, as an individual, my heart found so much peace in returning to this verse.
I can’t change many things which I find troubling.
But I can choose to follow Jesus.
I can honor my local, State, and Federal government by doing my best to abide by the laws, to pray for them, and to be edifying with my speech.
I can love fellow Christ followers by praying for the body, reaching out to those God puts on my heart, and continually teaching our children about walking daily with Him.
I can and do fear God. His Word is my answer, my comfort, my guide. His will I seek daily, spending time with Him in quiet. As I hear His direction I choose to respond with obedience and love. All this I do because His love is so compelling!
Lastly, I can honor all people.
Because that’s what God has asked me to do.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for this verse and how it has brought clarity to my heart and mind. Lord, You know there is such unrest, hurt, and pain happening. I feel so sad when I see people so afraid and struggling. Thank You for saving us from all this. Thank You that we have hope in You. Lord Jesus, please help us to be people of integrity, honor, and love. Help us to reflect Your Word and Your will. May the whole Earth be filled with the knowledge of You! Amen.
patientlyhopeful 