Live free but show respect

1 Peter 2: ¹⁶ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. ¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

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“How did this idiot get picked over me” I thought to myself. I mean He has no skills, doesn’t know what I know and definitely doesn’t have the best interest of others in mind. “I” could do better if “I” were the boss.

• Sometimes arrogance causes me to think more highly of myself.
• Sometimes I use my salvation to do whatever evil I want and I say “well I’m saved so I’m forgiven.”
• Sometimes my lack of respect for leaders makes me look like a complainer rather than a person of love.

This statement hit hard.  I mean how am I to show “everyone” respect? What about people who don’t like me or better yet what about people I don’t like? What if I feel that my leader is an idiot? GOD thinks differently.

• GOD says honor those in authority because I have to consciously remove my arrogance.
• GOD says expose my evil and never let salvation be a freedom to blatantly keep sinning.
• GOD says fear only HIM for HE is the only one who can destroy the soul.
• GOD says love those who love HIM even when they are difficult to love.

I must realize that “every” human is GOD’s human and I must show them respect. Yes, I will sin but my efforts must be on holiness rather than giving up to get my way.

• Are you blatantly living the way you want and are not pleasing to GOD?
• Do you honestly believe the way you speak about “that” person is respectful to GOD?

Can you submit yourself to your leaders and change your mind set to think more highly of them than yourself?