Freedom Gift || 1 Peter 2:15-16 || Manna for the Mind #135

Welcome to Day 135 of the “Manna for the Mind” devotional! This series is about finding nourishment in the Word of God to get us through the day. In each devotional, I take a variety of scripture passages (typically 1-3 verses each) and build our understanding of what they teach via their context and connecting scripture. My goal is to help you understand how to be the type of human God created you to be.

Today’s passage is 1 Peter 2:15-16. We’ll talk about how our good actions will silence the ignorance of the foolish.

1 Peter 2:15-16

NASB	NLT	VOICE
15 For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people.	15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.	15 You see, it is God’s will that by doing what is right and good you should hush the gabbing ignorance of the foolish.
16 Act as free people and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.	16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.	16 Live as those who are free and not as those who use their freedom as a pre-text for evil, but live as God’s servants.

Christians will find more freedom in Christ, but the apostles define freedom more narrowly than we do. Christians use freedom as a tool for serving God. They use their freedom to be a voice for the voiceless, to have hands for the needy, to have resources for the impoverished, and more. This freedom is the foundation that God gives us to reach our highest potential.

We must not indulge in our desires without this freedom from religious rules and eternal guilt. That is, do not use this freedom for selfish and prideful gain. Instead, we need to use our freedom to become the best that God created us to live. Our freedom should be to share the power, joy, and love God gifted and shared. Our freedom should be accountable to God and devoted to living for and serving others. Our lives should be a beacon of light, representing the true character of who God is – patient, compassionate, faithful, and more. We have the freedom to lift up those around us, ensuring that they can live the lives that God created them to live. When the world is trying to silence those people or restrict the lives of those trying to find their place in the world.

1 Peter 2:12

NASB	NLT	VOICE
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation.	12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.	12 Live honorably among the outsiders so that, even when some may be inclined to call you criminals, when they see your good works, they might give glory to God when He returns in judgment.

Peter’s advice sounds like Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:16: If your actions are above reproach, even hostile people will praise God. Reproach is defined, according to Oxford, as an expression of disapproval or disappointment. When our actions do not result in disapproval or disappointment, we will find that our enemies will end up praising God himself. Peter’s audience was scattered amongst unbelievers who were led to believe and spread vicious lies about Christians. The Christians’s behavior – gracious, god-led, and victorious – would show that these rumors and lies are false, and they might have the chance to win some people back to God.

Don’t write people off because they misunderstand Christianity; show Christ through our lives. The day may come when those who judged you before will praise God alongside you. I’ve been working to understand a more accurate biblical teaching of key active and prominent topics today. I’ve been working to share the concerns I’ve had about previous religious teachings that I’ve been taught that didn’t feel right, weren’t accurate, or hurt those around me. Topics of homosexuality, abortion, lust, sexual immorality, and more have been all topics I’ve spoken on and researched and have learned so much more about. Coming off of the election, I’ve seen verses used to support candidates and looked at how out-of-context or out-of-pocket they are. At the end of the day, my job is to share an unbiased, fully formed, mutually understood teaching of scripture to talk about God’s teachings and how we can apply them in our world today.

Galatians 5:13

NASB	NLT	VOICE
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.	13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.	13 Brothers and sisters, God has called you to freedom! Hear the call, and do not spoil this gift by using your liberty to engage in what your flesh desires; instead, use it to serve each other as Jesus taught through love.

Paul talks about the difference between freedom to sin and freedom to serve. Freedom to sin is no true freedom. It enslaves us to follow the evil forces of the world. Christians should not be slaves to sin. Christians are to serve God by honoring him and loving and caring for the community around us. Following the temptations and desires will not end in a positive light because they are often temporary and selfish. Our freedom is much more than just for us; it’s to strengthen the community around us and strengthen our cities, countries, and the world at large. Our freedom is for the Kingdom of God at large, and we’re the vessels to strengthen it.

Father God, thank you for the freedom you have given us. The choice to follow you is the best decision we can make as a person and society. Guide us to use our freedom to honor you and to care for and love our community. It’s in your name, we pray. Amen.