Daily Devotional

-November 13, 2020-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-Doing The Will Of God By Doing Good As Bondservants Of God-

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men — as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.”

(1 Peter 2:15-16).

Our personal testimony for Christ includes both our faith in the Lord and how we live out that faith in our daily lives. It thus involves our words and actions. We who are saved have liberty in Christ, but it not liberty to live as we choose to and take advantage of it to sin.

We must always do the will of God by doing good. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Our goal is to glorify God in the way we live in this world, doing good to others, and bringing glory to name of Jesus.

Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Many Christians today say, “So and so is doing it so it must be okay.” Think about that statement for moment. Since when should our standards be man’s ways? Our standards are found in the Word of God!

When we use liberty as a cloak or excuse for sin and bad behavior, it is so wrong and sinful. Anything that stumbles a brother or sister, though we have the liberty to do it and we may see nothing wrong in it, is wrong nonetheless. In the days of the early church the big issue and controversy was eating meat sacrificed to idols. Paul said he would rather not eat meat that to stumble a fellow brother or sister in Christ. This is the attitude we should take also.

In our modern world we have different issues and controversies in in the church. One of the biggest ones today is whether Christians should drink wine or beer. We may see nothing wrong with it, and we have liberty, but the question is, will it glorify God or not. Will our actions, though unintended, stumble a brother or sister for whom Christ died?

A bondservant of Christ seeks to please his master not himself. Paul said it plainly in 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.” Considering these three things will help us maintain a good testimony and be a blessing to others: Is it helpful? Is it edifying? And is it good for the well-being of others, saved and unsaved?

Doing good is always right and right in style for the believer in Jesus Christ. If it is doubtful, don’t do it, error on the side of caution. Just as the yellow yield sign averts many accidents on the road, so too, following the principles of Scripture averts many problems for ourselves and others. Let us do God’s will by doing good and considering the affect we have on others.

Have a blessed day doing the will of God by doing good and considering others. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean