1 Peter 2:17 “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
As Peter has been providing instructions to believers he decides to give a quick summation writing “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” Talk about covering lots of areas in one verse we sure get a lot of actions to take. We will look to break down each action so that we might put them into action.
First, we are to honor all people. The idea is that every person has dignity and is to be treated with dignity.
You might recall that Jesus was adamant that we do not disrespect any person. Matthew 5:21 says, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.”
We are never to devalue what God has valued and every person is valuable to God because His Son died for everyone everywhere.
Secondly, we are to Love the brotherhood. We are to love one another. It will be by our love for one another that others will know we are Christ–followers. I have said it before and I say it again, the time a person needs love the most is when they deserve it the least. Peter says to love one another fervently!
Third, Fear God! As Peter instructs us about how we treat people he also tells us how we are to treat God. While all people are to be treated with RESPECT, God is to be treated with REVERENCE. And remember that when we come to the bottom line of what life is all about, Solomon wrote FEAR GOD and KEEP HIS COMMANDS!
Fourth, Honor the King. Those in authority are to be shown RESPECT. We don’t worship the authority but we do respect the authority. And on this President’s Day in America we are reminded to PRAY FOR ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY. 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
Ultimately, as Christians, we view God and people differently as all people are to be treated with dignity and shown love. Human authority is to be shown RESPECT and God is to be shown REVERENCE.
LOVE IS NOT RUDE! It is not rude to people, authority, or even God!
Continue Strong with respect for all and reverence for God,
And remember to DATE The Word