Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. 1 Peter 2:13-17
Dear Lord Jesus, what but the gospel can explain the change in Peter’s life? The same disciple who nervously tried to protect you from being arrested by the authorities—cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant (John 18:10-11)… the same disciple who then fled into the night and denied you three times out of fear… this same disciple calls us to fear only God, and to live as model citizens in our broken world filled with broken kings, governors and authorities. What but the gospel can explain his movement from fear and frenzy, to faith and freedom?
And who but you, Jesus, who reattached Malchus’ ear to his head (Luke 22:51)… who but you, who could’ve dispatched “more than twelve legion of angels” to protect you from the “large crowd armed with swords and clubs” (Matt. 26:47-54)… who but you can give me and my friends the freedom and courage we need to “silence the ignorant talk of foolish men,” as we live to your glory in our culture and communities?
Though your kingdom is “not of this world,” your kingdom has broken into this world and, one Day, will utterly transform this world. Because this is true, Jesus, I need you to free me from both extremes of naïve passivity and fear-mongering aggression. Very practically, show me what “obeying God and not men” looks like when the claims of your kingdom clash with the values of this world. How do I submit to the authorities, for your sake, while primarily only bowing my knee and heart to you, as my King?
Please, Lord Jesus, may I only suffer for doing good… not for being fearful, obnoxious, or paranoid. May I be busy with your kingdom, and not simply be a busybody (2 Thess. 3:11). Keep changing me the way you changed Peter. So very Amen, I pray, in your all glorious and all grace-full name.