Wednesday, December 3
You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. (1 Peter 2:18)
Peter now addresses a group often overlooked and undervalued in society: Slaves. In the Roman world, slavery was a common reality, and many early believers found themselves in this lowly status. Yet, Peter doesn’t ignore them. He speaks directly to their dignity and their unique witness within difficult circumstances.
His instruction—“You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect”—is not an endorsement of injustice, but a calling to personal Christ-like character even in hardship.
This verse challenges us today, not in the context of slavery, but in how we respond to difficult workplaces, unjust leadership, or oppressive systems. The call to submit with all respect is a high one, especially when the “masters” in our lives are harsh, unkind, or unworthy of respect. But Peter points us to a deeper truth: your ultimate Master is Christ. Every act of submission, when done with a heart set on God, becomes worship. It becomes a witness.
When you serve with integrity in hard places, when you refuse to repay evil for evil, when you carry yourself with quiet strength in injustice, you reflect Jesus. Respect doesn’t mean silence in the face of evil. It doesn’t mean accepting abuse. But it does mean resisting the urge to respond with bitterness. It means honoring God even when people dishonor you. Your posture in pain can preach a louder message than your prosperity ever could.
Doing the Word
Submit to your master with all respect.
Prayer
Dear Father, help me to walk like Christ while He was in this world—in humility, in strength, and in honor. May my actions reflect His love, even when it’s hard. In His name, Amen.