February 20, 2025 PORTALS OF PRAYER READINGS

 

1 Peter 2:13-17

Submission to Authority

¹³ Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,^[a] whether it be to the emperor^[b] as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants^[c] of God. ¹⁷ Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Footnotes

1. 1 Peter 2:13 Or every institution ordained for people
2. 1 Peter 2:13 Or king; also verse 17
3. 1 Peter 2:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

Psalm 18:25-30

²⁵ With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
    with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
²⁶ with the purified you show yourself pure;
    and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
²⁷ For you save a humble people,
    but the haughty eyes you bring down.
²⁸ For it is you who light my lamp;
    the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
²⁹ For by you I can run against a troop,
    and by my God I can leap over a wall.
³⁰ This God—his way is perfect;^[a]
    the word of the Lord proves true;
    he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Footnotes

1. Psalm 18:30 Or blameless

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