Without doubt, we live in a brutal world. We’d like to believe, for instance, that slavery was eradicated long ago. But according to the World Economic Forum, as of 2021 there were over 50 million people globally living in conditions of modern slavery. 50 million!

The very concept of slavery is patently abhorrent and yet it’s been a fact of life pretty much for all of human history, which I guess sets the scene for this somewhat puzzling Bible verse:

1 Peter 2:18 Slaves, be willing to serve your masters. Do this with all respect. You should obey the masters who are good and kind, and you should obey the masters who are bad.

I mean, what do you do with that? Why isn’t this alleged God of love railing against slavery, instead of telling slaves to obey even masters who are bad? If God is indeed God, what in the blazes is He trying to say here?

Well, in the first-century Greco-Roman world slavery was common and many early Christians were, in fact, slaves. So this speaks into the social realities of the time. Christianity didn’t immediately set out to abolish slavery, but rather sought to transform the lives of believers within those existing social structures.

Perhaps you’re being treated unjustly at the moment. Perhaps it’s not within your power to change your circumstances. God’s call here, to you and to me, is to live a good life anyway; to exhibit exemplary behaviour, no matter what our situation may hold.

Do this with all respect. Because that’s what Jesus did for you.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.