DaySpring Daily Word of Inspiration: 1 Peter 2:15-16 – 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.
We’ve all been put in a compromising situation. Do you know that in this situation is an opportunity? There is an opportunity to prove God is real and active and there is an opportunity to turn someone off to God. Let’s examine how that looks and what the underlying meaning of it all is.
Our scripture for meditation today lets us in on how effective our “doing good” does in silencing ignorant talk. The idea here is that when live in a way that lines up with God’s will, instructions and principles, we above reproach before foolish people. This simple means that no one should have anything that they can bring against you as a definitive act of sin that is being displayed in your life. Your life speaks volumes! It shuts down the talk that Christianity is bogus, it refutes the idea that it’s impossible to live as the bible details, and it kills the fact that the effects of Jesus Christ aren’t alive and active today as they were when he walked the earth. These ideas are among many that people, being uninformed, choose to hang their hats on to try and discredit your walk or their lack of a walk with God. It is ignorance in the very definition of the word; simply not knowing. What don’t they know? The truth and relevance of God’s word and the impact it has on lives once a person genuine connects, seeks, and lives by its teachings. This is where you and I come in. As we change the perception of God by doing what is good in his eyes and what is seen as impossible to do by others, we may win a few for the cause of Christ.
Now that we have the foundation, we have to make sure we’re building with the right materials. It is often talked about in the Christian community that as we live for Christ we experience the freedom that he has for us in this life. Now that freedom has a specific look: It’s not a freedom to do whatever we want to do and not care about our actions because we have Christ, rather it is a freedom from doing everything we were in bondage to; freedom from lying because we now know the truth about ourselves and we’re not ashamed or need to hide anymore. Freedom from sexually immorality because we have the knowledge of how precious the temple that Christ lives in here on earth is. Freedom from anger since we’ve been called to love without reservation since God is our defender and avenger. Freedom from worry since we have the alter of grace to place our burdens, anxieties, hurts, fears, and stresses upon along with every other thing that used to cripple us. I could go on but we’d never get to the end of this. All of that to say, there is a freedom in Christ and used effectively, will allow the light of Christ to shine through you for someone to see.
We can’t use this great freedom to make excuses for our sins. We can’t tell people, “well God knows my heart and since I’m saved I’m free do whatever”. That’s a very, very dangerous statement to make. Simply put if you’re life isn’t being changed or changing after an encounter – a real encounter with Christ, you may not have ever accepted his payment for your sins at all. The sacrificial blood of Christ should be something that is responded to. If you haven’t responded in any way to truth, is His truth in you? I digress. A natural response to the freedom we’ve been given and the love, mercy and grace we’ve been shown should be us being more destructive, disobedient or careless! We should be slaves to the one who has saved us and given us everything! Are you ungrateful when someone on earth gives you something you didn’t deserve? Well how much more grateful should you be when Christ has given you eternal life through him?
Today is a great opportunity once again. God has a purpose for us all and when we look to seriously connect with Him, it will impact our lives and the lives of everyone around us. If you’ve been a person who’s allow your freedom to get the best-actually the worst of you, it’s time to repent! There is no power in looking like the world to the world.. Read that line again if you missed it. We have to show that our new lives in Christ are directed and set into motion by our reverence, gratitude and response to God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice for us and we now use our freedom in Christ to be a slave to his word. Get informed so that you can make the impact with your life that God would will. You can only do so if you are changed; changed from a slave of this world to a slave of God. Our prayer is that you make that change. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!