1st Peter 2:17
I am going to address the 4 pillars from this verse in reverse order because with Super Tuesday just behind us, the 2024 election is on my mind right now. I am not here to be political and tell you how to vote. I simply want to remind everyone that no matter who ends up in the office of PODUS for the next 4 years, we are to show him/her honor and respect. Perhaps you do not like or trust the candidates. What are you, as a Christian, to do? According to this scripture, I believe we are to actively PRAY for our leaders regardless of our opinions, and we are to refrain from hatefully bashing them in public (including social media). Please do not misunderstand. If you want to voice support for a candidate during the election, you should absolutely do that. If you have concerns about a candidate, voice those. Just be prepared to back up your opinions, because someone will surely call you on them at some point. My point is to not be passive. Be active! Just don’t cross the line where comments are mean spirited and filled with ill will. If your purpose is to cause confusion or division, you’ve gone too far. Our words should be used to edify, not destroy. If we have nothing good or useful to say, stay quiet and pray, pray, pray.
Revere God. The other Bible versions I consulted said “fear God.” Does this mean that we are to cower and hide from His presence? Absolutely not. The fear we are to have is a total reverence, not being “quaking in our boots” scared of Him. He loves us and does not wish to cause us harm. So how are we to fear or revere Him? We are to fear Him by recognizing that He is all powerful and has all authority. We are to honor Him, approaching Him with reverence, humility, and awe. We revere Him when we worship and surrender.
Love your spiritual family. All who believe in Jesus Christ, honor Him, and seek to make Him Lord are a part of the family of God. We are to support each other, lift each other up, and pray for one another. If you want to know exactly how God calls us to love our spiritual family, read 1 Corinthians 13:4-13.
Finally, treat everyone you meet with dignity. Don’t belittle someone. Don’t regard someone as less than yourself. Remember, God created each of us in His own image, so as we treat them, we treat Him. End of story.
