“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”
I am already getting daily contact with people from both political parties asking for money to support their candidacy for freedom, apparently unlike all their opponents. I am aware it is for freedom that our nation was birthed. We can vote. We have privileges of caucuses and there are issues that you can address on a grass roots basis if you align yourself with a particular political party. We do have a voice if we choose to have one. I am not saying that your voice will be part of the majority, but all ideas and all people began as a minority some place and it took awhile to be known or change public opinion. I have written to senators and legislators and have tried to meet the local state representatives. Yet as a pastor I recognize my allegiance is to a greater authority.
However, Peter was living in a society with sixty million slaves. Many Christians were not free. But no freedom is as great as what is provided by Jesus Christ. A believer is free from condemnation of sin. We are no longer under the bondage of the law that points out our sin, but under grace. As instructed previously we are to be model citizens living in righteousness out of love and for the glory of God. Freedom is not bound by the lusts of the flesh.
As servants of God we are called to live in community with other believers working together utilizing our gifts and talents. The Christian is not an isolated unit. Christian freedom according to the Bible also involves service to the Lord. Only in Jesus is a man freed from self and sin and passion to be as good as he ought to be. Only in Christ is a man freed from selfishness and self-seeking to be as great a servant as he ought to be. Freedom comes when a person receives Christ as king of his or her heart. Fulfillment comes when we are doing what He wants us to do through our lives.
Application: Live in freedom but with the responsibility that comes in knowing Jesus. Never use freedom as an excuse for sin or cover-up for wrong motives. Do you have a good conscience before God? Do not use your freedom in vain.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that I can live in a community with other believers working together in the body of Christ. This is such a huge blessing. It humbles me to know that you desire for us to be Your hands and feet here on earth. This is freedomm in Christ.
