1 Peter 2:9-17; Psalm 150

1 Peter 2:9-17
We as believers are contrasted to unbelievers who stumble at the message of Jesus. We are called a "chosen people...royal priests...a holy nation, God's very own possession." v. 9 This, of course, is not to make us proud in any way because after all we have done nothing to deserve this; it is totally by the graciousness and mercy of God! But it calls us to "show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonder light." v. 9 We are important, not because of what we do, but because of what God does!

Peter, in vv. 11-12, again warns the believers (and us as well) to live godly lives so that "your unbelieving neighbors...will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world."

Our friend and church member, Sam Evans, spoke on this passage Sunday night. He divided the ideas in vv. 11-17 into 2 categories.  We are to live lives obedient to God

• for the lost--our unbelieving neighbors. v. 12
• for the Lord. v. 13

"For the Lord's sake," we are to respect all human authority. The purpose of civil authority and government is to "punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right." v. 14 Societies that do not respect authority eventually descend into anarchy. I'm afraid we are seeing a very great rush to disdain and even hatred for those in authority over us, including police officers. Don't for a minute think that this respect is harder for us than it was for these early Christians. They were living in the Roman Empire under the notoriously cruel reign of Emperor Nero. Of course, we are to obey God first, but, let's be honest, in most cases it does not violate our spiritual conscience to be good citizens.

It's God's will that our "honorable lives" would be a testimony to others. We are free, but we are not to use our freedom as an excuse to do evil. After all, we are God's servants. "Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king." v. 17

Psalm 150
This is a fitting psalm of praise to conclude the book of Psalms. It begins with the exuberant, "Praise the Lord!"
Where?   Everywhere! v. 1
Why?   For his mighty works and unequaled greatness!
How?  With all kinds of music--horn, lyre, harp, tambourine, dancing, strings, flutes,                        cymbals and "loud clanging cymbals"!  Wow! Let's not be afraid to show joyous emotion as                we praise the Lord.
"Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!"

This is how the song-writer, Matt Redman interpreted this psalm:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7lvyd1JdQU