“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.”
I Peter 2: 11-17
“Dear friends I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even when they accuse you of doing wrong they will see your honorable behavior and they will give honor to God when He judges the world. For the Lord’s sake respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves. So don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God and respect the King.”
Peter’s letter was written in Rome and was motivated by severe trials that Christians in Northern Asian Minor were suffering. He writes to God’s elect/ believers, referring to them as aliens or strangers passing through in this world 2:11. He urges them and us to submit to authority and to abstain from sin and fleshy desire. To live in humble righteousness and live in such a way that even when unbelievers or other believers accuse us of wrongdoing, our doing the “right” thing will silence their foolish and ignorant prattle. We are free in Christ! How then do we choose to use our freedom? To serve “self”? To benefit “self”? To give a false impression by wearing a mask of righteousness, thereby deceiving and ultimately destroying “self” on the downward spiral to sin and ruin. That is surely where misuse of our freedom will take us and very quickly. To abuse freedom will ironically usher us into bondage as we becomes slaves to sin. That is not God’s desire for us, but rather He desires that we use our freedom in Christ, found in our salvation, to serve Him; How? By living righteous, selfless and humble lives, before God and man. By making right choices, doing good, loving others, fearing God, and honoring authority?
As believers then, who trust in God, we must use our freedom to glorify Him by doing the right thing. If we make this a practice in all areas of our lives and in all actions and behavioural patterns then it doesn’t matter what others say about us or accuse us of.
Let’s be challenged by Peter’s words here and make right choices to do the right thing. To live honourable, godly lives without compromise! No compromise in our daily spiritual walk with the Lord, is a sure fire way to silence the foolish prattle of our accusers as it, at the same time, fashions us into vessels fit for the Lord’s service. As we use our freedom to serve Him, our example becomes His method of bringing others into the Light and knowledge of His Truth.
OUR GOD IS AN
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GOD !!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!
Hope and Healing In Hard Places 