Devo: 2 Peter

1But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false
teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even
denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on
themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of
truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories
they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and
their destruction has not been sleeping.
18For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires
of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who
live in error. 19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of
depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

Meditation:
1. Peter insists genuine freedom is found in willingly submitting to God in all
things.  The false teachers declare, “We are free because we do whatever we
please.  We are free from all boundaries, restrictions, restraints.”  Exactly the
opposite is true.  We have been created for freedom, but we discover our
freedom only by submitting to God and obeying Him.  False teachers ignore
God’s way, and are wandering aimlessly.
2. Among the people I know and care, is there anyone who is living in so-called
“freedom” but actually in bondage and bitterness?  Why?
3. Grieve with God over this person’s unwillingness to follow God’s way to
enjoy genuine freedom.  Pray specifically for this person.  Pray also for an
opportunity that I may share the true freedom with him/her.

Personal Note:
There are a few people that comes to my mind when I think of people living out false freedom.  The sad thing is that those people are so blinded that they are leading others astray and they have a strong follower base for them.  In the end, we all have to give an account for what we have done on earth.  Let's pray.

1 Peter 2:11-17

 11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from
sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the
pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good
deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
 13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among
men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who
are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do
right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk
of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up
for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the
brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an
example, that you should follow in his steps.

Meditation:
1. Early Christians were at times criticized as misfits because they did not take
part in worship at social events honouring the Emperor or state deities.
Yet, the earliest investigation by Roman authorities reports that in Christian
meetings they bound themselves by oath to live good lives, to pray for the
Emperor, and to obey the authorities.
2. A life of submission to authorities will not prevent us from being slandered
or unfairly treated.  But using our freedom to live as God’s servant in our
society, to be good citizens in our community, will surely win praises from
people and bring glory to God.
3. What can I do to be good citizen of my city, province and nation?  What are
the things I need to do but haven’t done?  Ask God to help me.

Personal Note:
Our natural sinful desires want us to disobey authorities (government, bosses, teachers, parents, etc).  It is unfortunate that many who called themselves followers of Christ are making excuses for not submitting to authorities.  To reflect our love for Christ and to be a good witness for Christ, let us be obedient to authorities out of the freedom we have in Christ.

Romans 6:15-23

 15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no
means! 16Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him
as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin,
which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks
be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed
the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from
sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
 19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you
used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing
wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed
of ? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin
and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the
result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Meditation
1. Search myself for an area where I don’t walk in freedom but continue to
struggle with sin.  When do I easily give in to temptation?  What comfort,
relief or pleasure does the sin give me?  What pain or discomfort does it
bring?  What do I fear I would lose if I gave up the sin?
2. Read this passage with this specific sin(s) in mind.  Read the passage through
my life experience.  Do I identify with “Shall we sin because we are not
under law but under grace”?  What about “now offer (your body) in slavery
to righteousness”?  Take time to identify what my do and don’t agree with.
3. Pray and ask God to take over my struggle and unresolved problems.  As I
determine to obey God’s command, I will ask God for my freedom.

Personal Note:
Like the topic of the workshop I will give in TC2012, three areas of struggle for myself and most guys (if they are really honest) are money, sex, and power.  I give in to temptation when I feel lost and hopeless.  I could be struggling at work, at a relationship, at ministry, over my self-esteem.  Giving in could take the form of not being generous towards God in offering, dwelling on thoughts of how to get rich fast, checking out lustful media, dwelling on memories of lustful images, create plans and execute actions that promote my own status, dwelling in thoughts of how to become like those successful people I read about.  There seems to be temporary comfort, relief, or pleasure that result from the actions mentioned above.  Realistically, the discomfort increases as it fuels more worries, envy, lust, insecurity, anxiety... I asked why myself why do I keep dwelling on the sin.  I realized that the sins mentioned were my coping mechanism.  I fear that if I live in faithful submission to God's leading, I would not be in control and having the comfort I desired.

I am totally convinced that I am under grace (getting a gift I do not deserve) instead of under the law.  I should not think that I can sin all I want because of God's grace and mercy.  I have a new heart and mind thanks to the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  I no longer desire to engage in the sinful activities, which may appear to be pleasurable, but they ultimately leads me to death.  I agree that I am to offer my body including my eyes, ears, mouth, hands, legs, heart, brain...  to be slave for righteousness.  I trust God that He is faithful and will walk with me to overcome my struggles.