Pray the Word with David Platte is a resource from Radical.net.

1 Peter chapter 2, verses 13 through 17.

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor

as supreme or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

There are so much in these verses as we think about what God is teaching us about our lives, about government,

about how to live our lives, in view of government around us, even government that is

making it hard to follow Jesus, which was the case in 1. Peter when this letter was being written.

And yet we see God commanding followers of Jesus to be subject to human institutions,

to be submissive citizens of a government for the Lord's sake.

This glorifies God.

To submit to government around us, obviously not as ultimate,

but as a good institution designed by God,

while our supreme submission is still to God.

In the words of the Church and the Book of Acts, we obey God rather than men.

When faced with an order from a government that would involve disobeying God, then yes, we ultimately choose God and obedience

to God. Even when that could cost us our lives, I think about brothers and sisters around the

world right now who live in countries where it's illegal for them

to follow Jesus, it's illegal for them to proclaim Jesus, and they do so anyway at the risk

of their lives. So, so much to pray here. Let's just dive in. God, we praise you for government, for institutions

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