“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” ⎯ 1 Peter 2:16-17

Freedom . . . 

It’s hard not to take it for granted, isn’t it? In fact, most of the day-to-day freedoms can best be appreciated by those who’ve had them taken away at some point. The person who has known religious persecution probably appreciates publicly worshipping God more than those of us who have not know persecution. 

In Peter’s day many Jewish Christians still wanted to hold on to the rituals in the Old Testament in order to have a relationship with God. Then as now, Jesus freed us from those rituals to bring us to God based on what He did on the cross, not what we do in our lives.  Loving others is not what saves you, but you are free to love others completely.

Think About This . . . 

• Do you show love to others out of obligation or because of God’s love living in you?  What is the difference in the two?
• Peter said we are free but under the authority of God? What do you think that means?
• If we are free to love and God lives in us, why do you think it is so hard to really love others?