While we live as elect exiles, we can’t drink from the spring of living water while at the same time poisoning it with the sin of the flesh. Our right thinking ought to shape our right living. If we are in Christ, we will abstain from sin, pursue a life of beauty, and honour all — even government.

Living in what was the world’s most locked down city and coming out to vaccine mandates and political tension can make it hard to want to obey the government. But Peter wrote this letter during the time of Nero. So we submit in recognition that God is sovereign over all, and has all authority. The purpose of the government is to work for good and restrain evil. If they fail, we can speak out and shine light against authority that is misusing power and acting contrary to the goodness and grace of God. In the end, governments will give account to God. Until then, we submit to the king and honour one another — that “through our good acts we should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people” (1 Peter 2:15).