A Daily Devotion for Thursday, December 15

1Peter 2: 17-19

Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.

Of course these verses are in no way read as any sort of support or positive recognition of slavery. We all know how wrong slavery is and was. But the sentiment regarding honor rings true in any setting where we are required to submit to authority. "Honor the emperor." Honor God. We need to respect the fact that in many cases, some other person has authority over us in an immediate sense. But this does not change the fact that God has the ultimate authority. If earthly authority punishes us for honoring God, God always has our back.

Father God, you are the ultimate master of my every breath. I try to honor authority, but sometimes resort to complaints and passive-aggressive moves. That is not following Jesus. I will try to internalize these verses and their lesson for me. Amen

Becky, transforming