Doing Right Silences Foolishness

For it is God’s will that by doing right you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God. – (1 Peter 2:15-16, RSV)

For it is God’s will for you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right. As God’s loving servants, you should live in complete freedom, but never use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. – (1 Peter 2:15-16, TPT)

You see, it is God’s will that by doing what is right and good you should hush the gabbing ignorance of the foolish. Live as those who are free and not as those who use their freedom as a pretext for evil, but live as God’s servants. – (1 Peter 2:15-16, VOICE)

The old adage, “actions speak louder than words” holds true, and is affirmed in this passage. When we live right and pursue a life of following God’s will, foolishness is silenced, and love wins. As followers of Christ, we are called to freely choose to live and love like Christ. Jesus modeled what it is to love deeply, and His ongoing example is what silenced the scoffers and nay-sayers of the times. He did not repay evil for evil, but rather extended mercy and grace and made love and light visible for all who were near. We have the freedom to choose how to live. It is up to us to choose well. Our charge is to live in the light, which eliminates darkness and illuminates love. May we ever seek to serve and honor God with our every word and deed, and may foolish ignorance be silenced as love and grace are granted to all.

By doing what’s right,

And walking in grace;

Ugly ignorance,

By love is replaced.

Though we all are free,

May we wisely choose;

To serve only God,

Let Him shape our views.

It’s only through love,

And choosing to serve;

That others see Christ,

Goodness is preserved.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that living and loving freely in Your goodness and grace is what demonstrates the good that comes from seeking Your face. Forgive us for using our freedom of choice to misrepresent or be destructive with voice. Teach us to follow after You and Your heart for others in everything we do. Show us how to love those around us with all that we do as we seek after You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to do what is right and love with our every word and deed. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. – 1 John 3:18

Creating Bonds in the Body

There should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. – (1 Corinthians 12:25-26)

 

First and foremost, we are called to be a part of the body of Christ. We were created for relationship with God and with people. His intention was not for us to hide out with a few fellow like-minded souls for His sake, but rather to invest in the bigger body of Christ. We are called to contribute the gifts that He has placed in each of us, and to love and care for one another, despite our differences. Our hearts ought to celebrate the strengths of our sisters and brothers, not become points of envy nor contention. When someone is suffering, we are invited to walk beside them and extend our strength and support, and as one is honored, we are meant to rise up and rejoice alongside them in their accomplishments. Unity in the body comes as we live life together – in sorrow and in celebration. As we are able to be real with one another, we are creating bonds in the body as Christ intended. May we go forth this day in faith, with genuine concern for the body of believers around us. Let our hearts be united in purpose as we seek to serve Him well.

 

Let not division,

find way enter in;

for though we’re many,

we are all for Him.

No gift is greater,

but all are the same;

granted by Jesus,

to spread His great Name.

Build up the body,

united in Him;

grieve when there’s mourning,

rejoice when they win.

Walk with each other,

united in love;

as God intended,

our hope from above.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You created each of us with different gifts for different roles to build Your church. Thank You that no role nor gift is greater than another in Your eyes. Thank You that You ask us to love one another the same – to suffer with the suffering and to rejoice with those who are honored. Forgive us for seeing ourselves as less than or greater than we ought to, and help us to focus all of our attention on what we can accomplish for You and in You, rather than anything that is focused on self. Teach us to trust You more, so that we may operate in the light of Your love. Lead us to love well, so that we may invest in the lives of those around us. Show us how we are to grieve with those in mourning and celebrate with those who are rejoicing. May many come into a saving relationship with You as we seek to honor You in all that we say and do. Be glorified, O God, as we live and love as Your body of believers. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; …write them on the tablet of your heart. – Proverbs 3:3

What is Required?

So often, what is expected for one to walk out a life of faith, becomes convoluted by rules and regulations that God did not impart.  If we go back to the beginning, as God was about to lead the people into the promise land, He told Moses what He required.  “And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” – (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

To fear the Lord our God, is to have reverence for Him.  He is all-knowing and the Creator of all, that alone should inspire our awe.

To walk in His ways, is to live our lives in obedience to what He is asking.  This means we must come to Him and not only ask, but also be willing to listen and obey.

To love Him, is to give Him our whole heart, holding nothing back from the lover of our soul.  He who is Love, deserves nothing less.

To serve the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul, is to give each day our very best unto Him.  Regardless of the obstacles that come our way, we must choose to trust Him, and seek to serve and honor Him in all that we say and do.

To observe the Lord’s commands and decrees, is best summed up by loving God and loving people.  If we do both of these, we are obeying His commands.

Peace is found not through our doing enough, but in the true recognition of who He is, and how much He loves us.  The more we know Him, the more we are compelled to respect, follow, love, serve and obey our awesome God.

Reverent fear,

for Ancient of Days;

hope and our help,

for now and always.

Seek out to serve,

with whole heart and soul;

honor, obey,

our God we extol.

Do all He asks,

and love above all;

obedience,

to answer His call.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You do not ask anything of us, that You won’t also equip and empower us to do.  You grant us strength to surrender, power to persevere, hope in longsuffering, and peace in the eye of the storm.  Forgive us for our fearfulness and for our lack of respect and reverence unto You, for You deserve all of our hearts, in all things and at all times.  Teach us how to trust in such a way, that we are swift to surrender all unto You.  Let Your love lead us to follow You so that we lovingly and respectfully serve You, as we obey what You ask, and love others with Your great and lasting love.  May many come to know You personally, as their Savior and King.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Shout aloud and sing for joy. – Isaiah 12:6

To Find Freedom

“To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – (John 8:31-32)

Our freedom is found not through the tossing aside of rules and regulations, but rather through faith in our Heavenly Father, in Whom true freedom lies.    This freedom is our right to enjoy all of the privileges of citizenship as members of God’s family.  “As we seek to serve God, Jesus’ perfect truth frees us to be all that God meant us to be.” (NIV footnotes) The better we know Him, the more evident His character becomes in us, and the more readily we are free to walk in the gifts and the calling that He has created in us and for us.  Freedom is found where His grace is renowned.

As we do life in the freedom that He has for us, people around us have the opportunity to taste and see that the Lord is good.  Freedom, when lived from the inside out, is a desirable gift that will be questioned and sought after.  Our testimony is made evident, as we are set free from that which has hindered us from being all that He has made us to become.  Actively seeking Christ, is the only way to discover what it truly means to be His disciple, so that we may model a life lived in the freedom found in Him.

In Christ alone,

the truth is found;

trust in His word,

true freedom’s sound.

Cling to the cross,

from sin, set free;

empty the grave,

hope that is seen.

Power given,

to all who trust;

faith to hold fast,

He’s true and just.

In Him, we’re free,

to learn and grow;

to live and love,

so all might know.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we come to know You and Your truth, we learn what freedom truly is.  Thank You that freedom has nothing to do with our external circumstances, but rather everything to do with our internal condition.  Thank You that when we seek You, You begin to break away all that binds us from becoming who You intend for us to be; and we find freedom in You.  Forgive us for allowing anything to keep us from You or from being who You have made us to be, and help us to hold fast forever, to that which You are teaching us.  May we live and love like You, and may many come to know the true freedom that is found, only through a firm faith in You.  Be exalted, O God, and let Your freedom ring.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.