Honor everyone. Love
the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
1 Peter 2:17 ESV
To paraphrase
the verse above. Respect everyone. Love the church. Respect God.
Respect your ruler.
Peter uses
four brief sentences to make four significant points. Peter wants his
readers to understand as followers of Christ these are four things
we should exhibit in our lives.
We live in a
world today where true respect is not taught as it should be.
Tolerance is taught in place of respect. They are not one and the
same. Respect is a gift that is given to another. Every person
deserves respect and it should be given freely by those that claim to
be a follower of Christ. Why do they deserve respect? They bear the
image of their creator. Tolerance is accepting what someone does or
is, regardless of how you feel about it morally. Tolerance really
doesn't show love or respect. It just shows tolerance. Tolerance
doesn't really help someone to be all that they can be. It stagnates
their life and growth. If we truly respect others we will want what
is best for them and help them to attain it.
Love of the
brotherhood or the church, is not simply that we “love” to be a
part of what we have found to be beneficial for us. No, the kind of
love that Peter is speaking of is a deep and abiding love for the
members of the body of Christ. He is also speaking of loving the
teachings of the church. When we show this kind of love for the
brotherhood and its teachings, it is evident that we are committed to
the churches best interest in unity.
Respect for God and His word
is the highest priority for those that call upon the name of the
Lord. We serve a mighty God, we are to respect Him by honoring Him in
our lives. We must obey His teachings and teach them to others so
they might obey Him as well.
Respect for our rulers is a
sign to the world around us that we serve the one that put them in
charge. "Let every person be subject to the governing
authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those
that exist have been instituted by God." Romans 13:1 ESV
Respect for authority is respect for God.
So today, let us love and
honor God, His church, All people and those in Authority.
© 2012 Leo J. Woodman
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