Live as God's Slaves

Date: July 3, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional. 

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

B - Bible Verse: "Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves." (1 Peter 2:16)

L - Listen for God's Word and pray: Heavenly Father, help me understand the true meaning of freedom and how it relates to my life. Guide me to use my freedom wisely and not as an excuse for wrongdoing. Open my heart to hear Your Word and apply it to my daily walk with You.

E - Explore the History and Meaning: The apostle Peter wrote this letter to encourage and strengthen believers facing persecution. He addresses the importance of living as obedient and faithful followers of Christ, even in the face of adversity. In this verse, Peter reminds us that as followers of Jesus, we have been set free from sin and the bondage of the world. However, our freedom is not a license to indulge in sinful behavior or use it as a cover-up for wrongdoing. Instead, we are called to live as God's slaves, willingly surrendering our lives to His will and following His commandments.

S - Study the Key Words or Phrases: 

Live as free people: This refers to the freedom we have in Christ, which is not to be abused or misused.

Do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil: We should not take advantage of our freedom in Christ to engage in sinful behavior.

Live as God's slaves: This is a call to wholeheartedly devote ourselves to God, willingly submitting to His authority and living in obedience to His Word.

S - Summarize and Share: 

Can I just say how awesome it is that we have been set free in Christ? We're no longer bound by the chains of sin and the world's expectations. It's like we've been given a new lease on life!

But here's the thing: this freedom we have shouldn't be taken lightly. It's not a pass to do whatever we want or to get away with shady stuff. No, no! We've got to use our freedom wisely. It's like having a superpower that comes with great responsibility.

You know, sometimes it can be tempting to use our freedom as a cover-up for doing things we know we shouldn't. We might think, "Hey, I'm free in Christ, so I can do whatever I please, then just ask for forgiveness!" But that's not what it's about. It's about living as God's devoted servants.

Imagine this: we're not just free individuals doing our own thing. We're like slaves, but not in the negative sense. We willingly surrender ourselves to God's will and follow His commandments. We're His team, His crew, ready to do whatever He asks of us.

So we need to make sure we don't misuse our freedom. Instead, let's use it to bring honor to God and show His love to everyone around us. In our families, friendships, workplaces, and even with strangers, let's shine with God's love and grace.

When we embrace this kind of freedom, something amazing happens. We become agents of positive change in the world. We're no longer self-centered but driven by love and service. Our lives make a difference, even in the smallest acts of kindness.

It's incredible how something as simple as living out our freedom in Christ can impact others. So, let's make it our mission to use our freedom wisely and lovingly. We never know whose life might be transformed by a simple act of kindness or a word of encouragement.

And remember, true freedom is found in surrendering ourselves to God's purposes. When we live as His devoted servants, we experience the joy and blessings that come with it. So, let's embrace this freedom, love others well, and make a positive impact in the world!

4 Bible Cross References:

Galatians 5:13 - "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."

Romans 6:22 - "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life."

Romans 6:18 - "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

Galatians 5:1 - "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."