1 Peter 2:13-20…Honor Authority
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people. Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are harsh. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person endures grief when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”
Explanation: Peter, consistent with his assertion that we are exiles; aliens, reminds us we need to guard our conduct while here on earth. This is not just a metaphor…
“Aliens and Strangers” by Degarmo & Key echoes 1 Peter 2 in one central idea: Christians are to live in this world, but not of this world—like immigrants or exiles whose true home is elsewhere. In 1 Peter 2:11–12, Peter calls believers “aliens and strangers” and urges them to abstain from sinful cravings and to live with such excellent conduct among unbelievers that God is glorified; the song taps into that same pilgrim‑identity and counter‑cultural call.
Sunday morning, and the pews are filled with friends of mine, yeah, friends of mine
And, for the first time, I look around, I realize, I realize...
My closest friends are aliens and strangers, travelers here, living with danger
My closest friends are aliens and strangers, travelers here, living with danger
I used to wonder why they act so strange; now I know, yeah, now I know
I heard the preachers say this world we're in, is not our home, it's not our home
My closest friends are aliens and strangers, travelers here, living with danger
My closest friends are aliens and strangers, travelers here, living with danger
They're all pilgrims just passing through; heroes away from their homeland
And, since I've discovered the truth; I look at my friends and I can't help but think that...
All of my friends, they're aliens, just passing through, yeah, they're aliens
My closest friends, yeah, they're aliens. My closest friends, oh, they're aliens
Just passing through, just passing through . Just passing through, yeah, yeah
Unfortunately, I haven’t always experienced the response Peter promises; “the silencing of the ignorance of foolish people.” I wonder if I’m doing it correctly…
To “live like a guest in a foreign land” means to act as someone who is temporarily passing through, not entitled to the place as if it were your permanent possession. It combines humility, respect, restraint, and a clear sense that your home is ultimately somewhere else. This idea fits the biblical picture of Christians as “aliens and strangers” in the world (1 Pet 2:11).
1. Live with humility, not entitlement
- Guests don’t bark orders; they adapt to the host’s culture, customs, and rhythms.
- In daily life, that means:
- Choosing kindness over complaint,
- Respecting different viewpoints, and
- Avoiding the attitude, “I know how this place should work.”
- A good guest follows the household rules, sleeps where invited, and doesn’t abuse the freedom granted.
- In the civic sense, this mirrors Peter’s call to “submit” to authorities “for the Lord’s sake” (1 Pet 2:13), obeying laws and customs that are not contrary to God’s will, while doing so with a clear sense that your ultimate allegiance is to heaven, not to any one system.
3. Take only what is offered; don’t demand
- A guest enjoys the food, the conversation, and the space without micromanaging or insisting on changes.
- Applied more broadly, that means:
- Serving the common good where you are allowed
- Advocating justly, but not lashing out when things don’t go your way. It’s one thing to seek reform; it’s another to treat every inconvenience as an attack on your rights.
- A guest never forgets: “This is not my house; I am only here a little while.”
- For Christians, that means living with an “already‑but‑not‑yet” awareness: you invest in relationships, work, and justice, but you don’t put your final hope in any culture, nation, or political outcome.
5. Be a blessing to the host, not a burden
- Good guests say “thank you,” help clean up, and make the experience pleasant for the host.
- Likewise, believers are called to “do good” among unbelievers so that they “may glorify God” (1 Pet 2:12), even when they are culturally “aliens and strangers.”
In short, to live like a guest in a foreign land is to be fully present, deeply respectful, spiritually detached from entitlement, and always oriented toward the home that is to come—whether that’s across an ocean on earth or, in the biblical picture, in the presence of God forever.
Illustration: Think…UFO. The fear of UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) and the anxiety surrounding them can be attributed to a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and cultural factors. This multifaceted fear is deeply rooted in human nature and has been shaped by historical events, media portrayals, and societal beliefs.
- Biological Basis of Fear - Fear is an evolutionary mechanism that has helped humans survive by triggering fight-or-flight responses in the face of potential threats. UFOs represent unknown entities that could pose a danger to human life. The unfamiliarity and unpredictability of UFOs can activate the amygdala, a part of the brain responsible for processing fear, leading to heightened anxiety and vigilance.
- Psychological Factors - Carl Jung posited that UFOs could symbolize humanity’s anxiety about the future and the potential for catastrophic events. This anxiety often involves feelings of powerlessness, loss of control, and existential dread.
- Cultural Influences - Culturally, the fear of UFOs has been shaped by media portrayals and societal beliefs. Movies, television shows, and books often depict extraterrestrial life as menacing and destructive, reinforcing the idea that aliens are a threat to humanity. This portrayal creates a powerful image of aliens as powerful, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous beings.
- Historical events and conspiracy theories - The Roswell incident in 1947, where a supposed alien spacecraft crashed in New Mexico, fueled public fascination and fear of extraterrestrial life. Government secrecy and alleged cover-ups have further contributed to the perception that UFOs pose a significant threat. The idea that governments may already have knowledge about extraterrestrial life but are hiding it from the public creates a sense of betrayal, mistrust, and paranoia.
Application: With this in mind, two important things come to mind…
- If we act like Christians (aliens) we will be irrationally feared
- If we blend in we well be accepted.
We need to change our way of thinking…Peter turns this irrational fear on it’s head; Christians are “exiles.” We are sojourners here on earth, regardless of the country in which we dwell. “by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people. Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”
If I were a “sojourner in Norway, would I demand the government change it’s laws for my sake?
Christians are supposed to care about justice but…on God’s terms, not our own. Americans Christians, today, seem to have determined that political wins are the only way to achieve justice. Some even believe they they can justify violence and law-breaking in pursuit of their personal preferences. Many Christians have become the oppressor rather than the oppressed. Of course, the line between truly unjust oppression and mere personal preference blurs when people start treating any law or policy they dislike—because it is inconvenient, uncomfortable, or contrary to their tastes—as if it were a moral evil that justifies disobedience. The distinction matters because crossing it easily turns protest into pride, rebellion, or self‑justified lawlessness. So, Peter says…submit for the Lord’s sake, not my personal preferences.
And, what is “the Lord’s sake?”
“To submit for the Lord’s sake” means that our obedience to human authority is rooted in, and aimed at, honoring Christ, not in fear of the ruler or in slavish conformity to the system. In 1 Peter 2:13–17, this phrase tells believers that we are to yield to governing authorities because God is our ultimate Lord, and every act of lawful obedience becomes a kind of worshipful surrender to Him.
In short, to submit “for the Lord’s sake” means: We obey earthly authorities, not because they deserve your ultimate loyalty, but because your ultimate loyalty is to Christ—and we are willing to live that way, even when it is costly.
A Christian’s role in society is to be a witness of Christ, a servant of the common good, and a transformative presence that reflects God’s kingdom in a fallen world—without confusing the gospel with any single political program or national identity. In short, a Christian’s role in society is to be a holy, loving, public‑facing people:
- Proving the gospel in character - “They’ll know we are Christians by our love for one another.”
- Accept, didn’t accuse: Sin is not their fault, but it is their problem
- Proclaiming it in word - “Be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within you.”
- Demonstrate, don’t debate: The timing will be right when you hear the question.
- Promoting justice and mercy - “Use whatever gift you have received to serve others.”
- Serve, don’t suggest: Telling people what to do rarely works well
I don’t want to finish my life wondering if I made any disciples. I want to live my life in a way that I am confident I did…and I will see them in glory!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my King, my Savior, and my only true Lord. I come before You now to recommit my heart, my mind, and my life to You alone. I renounce every loyalty, allegiance, or identity that competes with You—whether it be nation, party, tribe, ideology, or ambition—and I declare that You are my first and final allegiance.
Jesus, take every part of my life—my thoughts, my words, my work, my relationships, and my political convictions—and bring them under the rule of Your cross. When I am tempted to place my hopes in an institution, a movement, or a leader, remind me that You alone are worthy of my full trust and devotion. Where my attachments to power, comfort, or status have blurred the line between faith and idolatry, expose them, break them, and replace them with a deeper love for You.
Help me to be a faithful Christian in society, not by seeking dominance, but by seeking Your will—living justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with You. Teach me to serve others, to stand for truth, and to speak of You with courage and kindness, all the while holding no secondary loyalty higher than Christ.
From this day forward, bind me to Yourself, and let everything else be subordinate to Your lordship. If following You costs me reputation, comfort, or worldly approval, let me count it joy, knowing that You are my reward.
I give You this allegiance, not as a one‑time promise, but as a daily decision. In the name of Jesus, my Lord and my God, Amen.
Remember, we “disciple best” through love, not law…
Live boldly out there today…
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