1 Peter Series Submit, Serve, and Honor

 

Submit, Serve, and Honor

1 Peter 2:18-25

      As I continue in the study of 1 Peter, these verses on slavery seemed to be glossed over, but everyone today is a servant to something. Jesus and Paul made these statements:  “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matt. 6:24 “The one to whom you offer yourself—he will take you and be your master, and you will be his slave.” Rom. 6:16 TLB

Peter continues in his admonitions to submit, serve, and honor those who are in authority. It was brought now to the basest level in society: servants and slaves. Peter knew to whom he served and to whom he was a slave. In admonishing the exiled believers, who were scattered among many countries and cities of Asia minor, they too were likely to be slaves or servants to someone. Let’s look at the text, “You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God. This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.

He never did one thing wrong,

Not once said anything amiss.

They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.” Message

First, Peter addresses the attitude of the servant or slave. “be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones.” Again Peter brings back that no matter the attitude of the authority, the servant or slave needs the attitude of Christ (Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privilege; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. Phil. 2:5-7) in order to be good. It would have seemed more bearable in the mindset of the world for the servant or slave to respond according to the flesh, when faced with mistreatment by a harsh master he or she would despise them, but a believer in Christ was to submit even in suffering to harsh authority.

Application - As in Peter’s days, there is slavery at every level of today’s society, but it is only the harshes of slavery that gets on social media. Jesus and Paul said it well that what we love, devote ourselves too, and let control us since we have offered ourselves to these will be the masters. Peter was addressing slaves and servants who had been taken or had given themselves to be slaves and were now converts to Christ. The worst of today’s slaves and servants are in various categlories: the lecherous sex trafficing, the cultural addictions of drugs, fame, and desire for wealth and prosperity. These have bound Christian men, women, and children as much as the slaves of Asia minor during the Roman occupations. 

We, like Peter and the exiled believers, need to submit to Christ in everything. Whether we work at a job that seems slaverous in its demands, we must have the attitude of Christ, to submit to God’s will, serve our masters with honor, as if we were submitting to Christ.

Next Peter attacks the excuses of rebellion. There were probably many slaves who ran away from their masters whether they were rebellious or fleeing for their lives. Peter probably watched slaves like Onesimus to whom Paul knew. They had run away and found life in Christ but to be returned to their master a changed and submissive slave. Let’s look at the text, “What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God. This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived.” 

Peter’s admonition would not be popular to the slaves and servants who were living in the sinfulness of their human nature, but to the slaves and servants who had received Christ with the attitude to submit, serve, and honor, they understood God’s will was what counted. Peter’s words distinguished between receiving mistreatment for a wrong behaviour that was done on purpose, versus a wrong done for a good behaviour. It is how the slave reacted and responded that counted with God’s will. 

Application - A fellow teacher used to tell me, “No good deed goes unpunished.” In a sense that it is true, we do get punished or mistreated because of an act of good behaviour or deed. It is in how we react to the mistreatment or punishment that counts with God. I know in my own life, there have been times when I have reacted out in anger or rebellion against being mistreated, and the punishment I received was because of my rebellious sinful nature and I received the punishment justly because of my attitude and deed. But as a Christian, we are to submit to Christ in everything, and when we are mistreated and we react in submission, God sees the attitude and it counts with God. For it Christ we serve, and we show honor to him by honoring those in authority (masters).

Third, Peter describes Christ’s example of submission, service, and honoring of authority. Let’s look at the text. “He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.

He never did one thing wrong,

Not once said anything amiss.

They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.” Message

Peter knew these words are life to a believer in Christ. They needed an example to see how to react to being mistreated and punished for our behaviour. The christian slaves and servants saw in Jesus the godly life and attitude of a servant. He suffered for all the sins of mankind, even though he did nothing wrong, even Pontius Pilate stated that Jesus was not guilty of the crime he was accused of. Jesus knew that it was God’s will and purpose for him to suffer for mankind. 

Peter used this as a step by step example of the attitude of submission, service, and honor God wanted in them as well.  First, they needed to know it could be done, it was not impossible. They were to hold their tongue if they were accused or mistreated. Second, they needed to be content that God sees the unjust treatment and will set things right. Third, they saw the gospel in the attitude of Christ. He submitted to the punishment of the cross so that mankind could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. Jesus’ wounds and afflictions were the balm that would heal them of their sins. Jesus would be their Good Shepherd, who would take the lost, weary and broken sheep, heal their wounds, give them his name, guide them along life’s path, into the green pastures of His Kingdom. 

Application - If there were ever a message or lesson that Christians need to hear today, it is the example of Christ’s attitude for submitting, serving, and honoring God, the ultimate authority. Christians need to hold their tongues, James said it well, “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” James 3:5-11

But Christ, He gave us an example on how to live our lives when punished for good behaviour. And in submitting to God’s will and purpose his suffering was seen by God and God set it right after His death, Christ was raised to glorious life, a new resurrected body, and was seated at the right hand of God the Father in a place of ultimate authority.

We are like the lost sheep, who the Good Shepherd sought out and brought back, attended to their wounds and afflictions, gave them a new name, a new life, and a home prepared especially for us. 

Today, if you are serving a master other than Christ, remember Jesus taught us submission, service, and honor to those in authority. God sees His people, and he will set things right if we will take on the attitude of submission, service, and honor.

There are more lessons on my blog, http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, May God keep you, may His face shine upon you, may His presence fill you with peace and power in order to live a life of submission, service, and honor.

In His Service, Mike Davis