- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
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- 17,520
6 May 2008
Word on the Web
1 Peter 2 v 13-17
For the Lord's sake, yield to the people who have authority in this world: the king, who is the highest authority, and the leaders who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. It is God's desire that by doing good you should stop foolish people from saying stupid things about you. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as servants of God. Show respect for all people: Love the brothers and sisters of God's family, respect God, honour the king.
I wonder what picture comes into your head when I mention freedom. Swimming with dolphins, flying high like a bird in the sky, not having to go to school or work, having all day to do what you want.
True freedom comes with responsibility. We need to use the freedom we have wisely in order to remain free and to bring others into that same freedom. Those responsibilities include not using freedom for our own gain, instead using it to serve others.
So how are we free? Well if we are followers of Christ, we can know freedom from our past experiences, we are forgiven for our wrongdoings, we are released from the rat race of life to become rich or famous, and we are free to love and serve God and other people.
That may not sound like freedom to you, but it is the way Jesus said we could find it. If we hold onto our lives we lose them but if we give ourselves in service of others we will save ourselves. If we selfishly want personal freedom to do what we want, we could miss the true freedom offered by Christ.
Lord Jesus, you have promised your followers true freedom. Please help me to understand that in your upside down Kingdom this freedom comes when I give up my rights in order to love and serve others. Amen
Written by Phil Pusey - Burton Youth For Christ
Word on the Web
1 Peter 2 v 13-17
For the Lord's sake, yield to the people who have authority in this world: the king, who is the highest authority, and the leaders who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. It is God's desire that by doing good you should stop foolish people from saying stupid things about you. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as servants of God. Show respect for all people: Love the brothers and sisters of God's family, respect God, honour the king.
I wonder what picture comes into your head when I mention freedom. Swimming with dolphins, flying high like a bird in the sky, not having to go to school or work, having all day to do what you want.
True freedom comes with responsibility. We need to use the freedom we have wisely in order to remain free and to bring others into that same freedom. Those responsibilities include not using freedom for our own gain, instead using it to serve others.
So how are we free? Well if we are followers of Christ, we can know freedom from our past experiences, we are forgiven for our wrongdoings, we are released from the rat race of life to become rich or famous, and we are free to love and serve God and other people.
That may not sound like freedom to you, but it is the way Jesus said we could find it. If we hold onto our lives we lose them but if we give ourselves in service of others we will save ourselves. If we selfishly want personal freedom to do what we want, we could miss the true freedom offered by Christ.
Lord Jesus, you have promised your followers true freedom. Please help me to understand that in your upside down Kingdom this freedom comes when I give up my rights in order to love and serve others. Amen
Written by Phil Pusey - Burton Youth For Christ
