THE HOLY BIBLE (Contemporary English Version – 1 Peter 2:13-17): ¹³
The Lord wants you to obey all human authorities, especially the Emperor, who rules over everyone. ¹⁴ You must also obey governors, because they are sent by the Emperor to punish criminals and to praise good citizens. ¹⁵ God wants you to silence stupid and ignorant people by doing right. ¹⁶ You are free, but still you are God’s servants, and you must not use your freedom as an excuse for doing wrong. ¹⁷ Respect everyone and show special love for God’s people. Honor God and respect the Emperor.

 THOUGHTS: I believe that at the center of every Christian’s prayer, is that we honor the will of God. We want to do what pleases God. I also believe that one of the most challenging things for humans to do, is to truly honor and obey government leaders. Friends, we may not like what they are doing, and we may think that some of their decisions are truly horrendous, but could that possibly be our fault? Did we seek God’s face and ask for His guidance before we voted, if we voted? Do we pray daily for our government leaders, so that decisions they make on our behalf, might truly be God-directed? God, through His servant Peter, is further instructing us to follow Jesus’ example by living right and doing good, instead of giving non-Christians equal opportunity to gossip about us like they would their equals. Yes, we are only human, and yes, we will fail from time to time, but when our heart is right and when we aim to obey God in all aspects of life, we will silence ignorant people who listen to Satan and try to find fault with us. Verse 17 really encapsulates all that was said in verses 13-16, so read it carefully friends, and make every effort to obey the Word of the Lord. Make it your daily aim to do what the Lord wants!

 PRAYER: Father, thank You for Your Word. When we read it we can understand its truths and see every reason why You would include such words of instruction for us, because You knew we would struggle with these things in our lifetime. I am humbled that in all things instructed, we must come into Your presence and seek Your guidance and Your help to accomplish the totally different lifestyle that You desire for us as we represent You. Please help us to stay focused on You every day. Please help us to do our part for our government leaders by praying for them and supporting them with our obedience, while You work our Your perfect will in their lives and in their governing of Your chosen people. Without a doubt Lord, we need You in our lives to do Your perfect will. Please touch the hearts of Your servants today, beginning with me. Please once again tender the hearts of those who have yet to accept You, especially those on the hearts, and in the prayers of my readers. May we rejoice soon at the miracle You are performing even now on our unsaved loved ones. I ask all this in the precious name of Jesus Christ, and all for His sake alone, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or read through Biblical truths on How To Know Jesus, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!