True Freedom
Posted on April 19, 2017 by Graeme Wilson in Freedom Fighters
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)
Peter and the early church were dealing with various problems in establishing boundaries and clarifying Christian ethics/morals. He and other clergies had the office of sorting through the recently converted Jews and their entanglement to the Law, as well as newly converted Gentiles who were full of sin and pagan ideology. In addition, they helped all of them live among each other in harmony, along with the governing officials.
Today, we should look at this freedom through the lens in which Peter meant, not our version of the definition of freedom. For instance, freedom doesn’t give us a license to flesh out in any area that we please. Let’s look through the passage starting from the latter concept of the verse to the beginning:
- Living as servants of God: The reality is that we are under new management and being made new, means following and obeying the new Boss. Simply put, “Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:10) And do it!
- Cover-up for evil: If you’re like me, you might be tired of every Christian ‘after church comment’ everything is fine, everything is great, God is good …. True; things will always end ok for believers, but the reality; we live in a fallen world with broken flesh. Instead of covering the brokenness, hurts, sins, family issues, church problems, lets strive for transparency. Could you imagine a church where people were honest about where they are and wouldn’t be judged but encouraged to walk in victory?
- Live as people who are free: Now we live free by His grace, through faith, as we understand it through His Word. I love the way James puts it, “But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so–not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer–he will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25).
Freedom to serve God faithfully, freedom to be transparent, freedom to serve and love; now that’s freedom.
Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full-time staff member at America’s Keswick.
The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 42-44| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here
Daily Quote: “Let us remember, as people of faith, that our primary mission is not to have a political ideology, it’s to change the world so that every man, woman, boy, and girl can experience true freedom.”– Mike Huckabee
This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
Want to get away & have dedicated time to read & learn God’s Word?
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
