Reading your Bible for Today June 2

June 2: 1 Peter 2:13-17

KJV Key Verse: 1 Peter 2:17
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Devotion:
One thing which everyone expects from a Christian is honesty. No matter where you go, we are expected to be honest all the time. Why? Because that is what Jesus was like and in trying to follow His example we have seen what we do wrong and asked Him to help us sort things out! If you haven't... get started!

Because we are Christians and are following in Christ's footsteps, we need to show we are willing to give up all the wicked ways of our past and of the state. We need to be followers of God's laws (all of which are just) and the states just laws. We have to stand by things such as legal penalties, and other annoying or unfortunate laws we might break. Trying to get out of paying the penalty for them is not right. On the other hand, Christ has paid for our sins against God, so we are no longer going to pay for them... as long as we do believe that that is so; we do need to believe Christ did it for us, personally.

Why do we have to be subject to local laws? Because God wants us to be so. What sort of example would we be setting if we took it upon ourselves to break every conceivable law of the land? Would that not suggest to others is what they should do to every law, including God’s laws? The laws of the land are there to try and make people see they will face punishment for breaking those laws. We can then show them how breaking God's laws means we will have to face His punishment – which is death. But then we are also able to show them exactly what Christ has done for us and how they too can be forgiven.

Without the knowledge about Christ, others are as fools. Without the saving grace of Christ, others face their eternal punishment. But with His grace, we are able to face our judge knowing He will say “not guilty”. What an honour!

Points to Ponder:
Do you seek forgiveness when you do things wrong?

Do you seek forgiveness from Christ when you break His laws?