Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bond servants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.--1 Peter 2:13-17
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
The previous two verses of 1 Peter chapter 2 speak of living before the world in a way in which unbelievers will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. This next section (through vs 25) addresses a believer's submission to government, to masters and wives to husbands. Further on in Chapter 5, Peter addresses a younger believer's submission to elders. He gives specific instructions to each one but the bottom line is if we are submitting to our Lord Jesus Christ and serving Him in love, we are fulfilling the law and will as much as depends on us put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. The best answer to persecution and accusation of wrong doing from unbelievers is to live a life blameless before them....to be not of the world but to be a good citizen who is above reproach submitting to our government as unto the Lord. We are to do this "for the Lord's sake"—so that His gospel and His people will be respected. If we are to be persecuted, it should be for obeying God, not for breaking moral or civil laws. (Romans 13:1-7, Matthew 22:21)
The verse that spoke to my heart was this one:
"For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bond servants of God."
Whenever, I see "for this is the will of God" I sit up and pay attention. My behavior should be above reproach for my Lord's sake. It is about Him. The bottom line of this life for each and every one of us is what we do with Jesus. Do we believe and accept His free gift to us or do we reject it. Jesus came so that we might have life in His name. Whatever else we might think is important is not in light of Jesus. We need to become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation so that we can shine His light to a lost and dying world.
A transformed life dedicated to Him is a supreme witness in this world. We are His hands, feet and mouth here and are to share His good news with as many as we can. Our lights become dim, however, when our own fleshly desires get in the way. That is why we are not to use our liberty in Christ as a cloak for vice but as bond servants of God. Galatians 5:13 says this:
"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
The key to that verse is but through love serve one another. The kind of love that links us to Jesus is the love that sacrifices. The love that does not seek its own. The love that puts the other first. Jesus when He walked on this earth did nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. He esteemed us as the joy that was set before Him and endured the suffering, humiliation and death of the cross so that we could have the opportunity to believe and be delivered into His kingdom of Light. He was despised and rejected by men...He was despised and we did not esteem Him. Jesus came not to seek His own will but the will of Him who sent Him....His Father in Heaven. We are to imitate Jesus who submitted to His Father in heaven in everything and in humility served us and made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men, humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Serve one another in love...love fulfills the law.
Love
Mom
Monday, January 24, 2011
Shining as Lights
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.--1 Peter 2:11-12
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
Peter is addressing here his brethren, his beloved, and he is beseeching them to remember that as believers they are not residents of this world. They are instead, strangers and pilgrims Our real home, their real home and our true citizenship, is in heaven with our God. Revelation 21:3 reminds us of this:
"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God."
We are not citizens of the world and should not look or act as if we are of the world. Our words and deeds should reflect our citizenship. Our true loyalty should be to our King in heaven. Our lives should be patterned after our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. We are to abstain...literally hold ourselves back from or away from fleshly lusts which war against our spirit. (See Romans 7:23, James 4:1, Gal 5:19-21)
The people of this world, girls, watch us carefully. They look for excuses to reject God, His Word, and the gospel. We are foreigners on this earth, called to a righteous life in a world that is oftentimes against us. In order to have an impact for Him on those around us, we must follow the example of our Lord Jesus, who lived a perfect life in the midst of this hostile world. Peter tells us our conduct should be honorable (lovely, excellent, noble, and gracious) among the Gentiles or unbelievers.
Our testimony...good or bad will influence others one way or the other. I so want to influence those whom I love and those whom the Lord has placed in my path for Him. I want them to remember my testimony for good when God's grace visits their heart one day. I want them to accept His offer of salvation and give them no reason not to. Our Lord desires that none should perish but that all should come to Him and be saved. His desire should be my desire and I should live my life before men in a way that glorifies who He is and what He has done.
Let Him do that work in us so that we may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world.
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.--Matthew 5:15-16
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
Peter is addressing here his brethren, his beloved, and he is beseeching them to remember that as believers they are not residents of this world. They are instead, strangers and pilgrims Our real home, their real home and our true citizenship, is in heaven with our God. Revelation 21:3 reminds us of this:
"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God."
We are not citizens of the world and should not look or act as if we are of the world. Our words and deeds should reflect our citizenship. Our true loyalty should be to our King in heaven. Our lives should be patterned after our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. We are to abstain...literally hold ourselves back from or away from fleshly lusts which war against our spirit. (See Romans 7:23, James 4:1, Gal 5:19-21)
The people of this world, girls, watch us carefully. They look for excuses to reject God, His Word, and the gospel. We are foreigners on this earth, called to a righteous life in a world that is oftentimes against us. In order to have an impact for Him on those around us, we must follow the example of our Lord Jesus, who lived a perfect life in the midst of this hostile world. Peter tells us our conduct should be honorable (lovely, excellent, noble, and gracious) among the Gentiles or unbelievers.
Our testimony...good or bad will influence others one way or the other. I so want to influence those whom I love and those whom the Lord has placed in my path for Him. I want them to remember my testimony for good when God's grace visits their heart one day. I want them to accept His offer of salvation and give them no reason not to. Our Lord desires that none should perish but that all should come to Him and be saved. His desire should be my desire and I should live my life before men in a way that glorifies who He is and what He has done.
Let Him do that work in us so that we may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world.
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.--Matthew 5:15-16
Love
Mom
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