Word@Work 1Pet27 - 1 Peter 2:16
Published: Tue, 06/02/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
LIBERTY WITHOUT LICENCE
1 Peter 2:16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. (NIV)
Persecuted, oppressed, abused or alienated people tend to be ruled by anxiety. They may spend their lives watching over their shoulder for the next insult or attack. Although this is a natural reaction, Peter now urges such Christians to cast off the shackles of fear; and live by faith in the God who has called them (who will only allow what is in His will). Instead of being bound by the terror of possible harm or even death, they are to live as free people who have been released from such slavery (cf Heb 2:14-15).
But even those who delight in their freedom as children of God (cf Gal 5:1) are not immune to temptation. Instead of cowering, they may abuse their privilege and do what is wrong while justifying their evil desires as being spiritual. The early church saw many such problems, from civil disorder to immorality and syncretism with either Judaism or paganism. Such problems still exist within churches worldwide. The only corrective is obedience to the Word of God. Service is the great antidote to self-centredness.
'Licentiousness' is an old-fashioned English word, but it sums up the problem. A licentious person has no respect for God's commands or the values of His Kingdom; so there is no moral restraint or self-discipline - which often results in sexual immorality and other vices. True liberty in Christ is not a licence to do what you like; it is freedom to serve Him without fear of what man might say or do (cf Heb 13:6). So, at work and in your community there are two opposite temptations that stem from persecution; either to cower in fear, or to abuse Christ's freedom. The remedy for both is choosing to serve with a glad and willing heart.
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank you for the liberty that I have in Christ. Help me to be strengthened by Your love even when others reject me. And give me the courage to reject fear so that I may serve those who despise You, for Christ's sake. Also keep me from the evil of using confident faith as a mask for wicked behaviour. May I know the self-control that Your Spirit brings to all who want to obey you with a glad heart. For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Persecuted, oppressed, abused or alienated people tend to be ruled by anxiety. They may spend their lives watching over their shoulder for the next insult or attack. Although this is a natural reaction, Peter now urges such Christians to cast off the shackles of fear; and live by faith in the God who has called them (who will only allow what is in His will). Instead of being bound by the terror of possible harm or even death, they are to live as free people who have been released from such slavery (cf Heb 2:14-15).
But even those who delight in their freedom as children of God (cf Gal 5:1) are not immune to temptation. Instead of cowering, they may abuse their privilege and do what is wrong while justifying their evil desires as being spiritual. The early church saw many such problems, from civil disorder to immorality and syncretism with either Judaism or paganism. Such problems still exist within churches worldwide. The only corrective is obedience to the Word of God. Service is the great antidote to self-centredness.
'Licentiousness' is an old-fashioned English word, but it sums up the problem. A licentious person has no respect for God's commands or the values of His Kingdom; so there is no moral restraint or self-discipline - which often results in sexual immorality and other vices. True liberty in Christ is not a licence to do what you like; it is freedom to serve Him without fear of what man might say or do (cf Heb 13:6). So, at work and in your community there are two opposite temptations that stem from persecution; either to cower in fear, or to abuse Christ's freedom. The remedy for both is choosing to serve with a glad and willing heart.
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank you for the liberty that I have in Christ. Help me to be strengthened by Your love even when others reject me. And give me the courage to reject fear so that I may serve those who despise You, for Christ's sake. Also keep me from the evil of using confident faith as a mask for wicked behaviour. May I know the self-control that Your Spirit brings to all who want to obey you with a glad heart. For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
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