A Prayer about the Freedom of Gospel Goodness

September 24, 2011

 A Prayer about the Freedom of Gospel Goodness
     Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 1 Pet. 2:13–17
     Lord Jesus, as I pray through this gospel admonition from Peter, it’s obvious that your grace alone can explain the amazing change that took place in his life. The same disciple who nervously tried to protect you from being arrested by the authorities by cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant (John 18:10–11); the same disciple who then fled into the night and denied you three times out of fear; this same disciple calls us to fear only God and to live as model citizens in our broken world—a world filled with broken kings, governors, and authorities. Nothing but the gospel can explain his movement from fear to faith, and frenzy to freedom.
     As this political year heats up, please make the same change in our lives. Make us good gospel people. Only you—who reattached Malchus’s ear (Luke 22:51) and who could’ve dispatched “more than twelve legions of angels” to wipe out your opposition (Matt. 26:53)—only you can give us the freedom and courage we need to be good citizens of our cities and your kingdom.
     Though your kingdom is “not of this world” (John 18:36), your kingdom has broken into this world and one day will utterly transform it. Because this is true, Jesus, free us the extremes of naïve passivity and fear-mongering aggression. Show us what “obeying God and not men” looks like when the claims of your kingdom clash with the values of this world. How do we submit to the authorities for your sake while primarily only bowing our knees and heart to you as our King?
     May we only suffer for doing good, Jesus, not for being fearful, obnoxious, or paranoid. May we be busy with your kingdom and not simply be spiritual busybodies (2 Thess. 3:11). Keep changing us the way you changed Peter. Give us all the grace we need to, “honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” So very Amen we pray, in your most glorious and liberating name.

Scotty Smith
Pastor for Preaching
Christ Community Church
1215 Hillsboro Rd.
Franklin, TN  37069
615-468-2230
 
It’s good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace Hebrews 13:9

Filed under: Prayer