Verse of the Day 7/17

Verse of the Day 7/17

1 Peter 2:15-16   For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.    English Standard Version (ESV)

We live in a time and in a society where if we disagree with someone in authority, the thing to do is to voice your opinion and in doing so, try to put down the opposition.  How often have you heard recently, calls for people to "get in their face" and to shout you're not welcome here.  How do we turn the tide, how can that kind of thing be made ineffective?  Today's verses call us "to do good" to silence there ignorance.

James MacDonald writes, "So whether the authorities in your life make wise or foolish choices, whether they treat you justly or unjustly, whether you feel known and appreciated or overlooked and misunderstood, live by these nine words: do good and silence the ignorance of foolish people. God's counterintuitive strategies have a surprising way of upending the world."

As MacDonald points out, that method may seem "counter-intuitive" to the world around us, but it is the way to bring about change, it will have an impact. We are not obligated to join in the fray, but are free to choose a better way.   Verse 17 from The Message encourages us to "Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government."

May we serve and revere God today by treating others with dignity.  It can make a difference.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

1 Peter 2:13-17 The Message (MSG)

^13-17 Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.