Daily Bible Verse - 11/7/2007 - 1 Peter 2:16

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.

1 Peter 2:16

Commentary

Christian liberty is a central truth of the New Testament. "If you abide in My word," Jesus said, "then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Cor. 3:17). "It was for freedom that Christ set us free" (Gal. 5:1).

But Christian liberty is not unbridled license. It is never freedom to sin, and often it should exclude things that in themselves are not sin but that may become sinful or lead others to sin. Peter says, "Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-slaves of God" (1 Pet. 2:16).

MacArthur, J. (1996, c1984). 1 Corinthians. Includes indexes. (189). Chicago: Moody Press.

Daily Bible Verse - 11/06/2007 - Hebrews 10:36

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

Hebrews 10:36

Commentary
What they needed was endurance, the determination to remain under the persecutions rather than escape them by denying Christ. Then after having done the will of God, they would receive the promised reward.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Heb 10:36). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Did you know?
The recipients of this book (Hebrews) have already endured the sufferings of persecution. The writer implied they would face more such adversity. These verses provide insight into the nature of most persecutions prior to the executions of Nero in a.d. 64-65. They involved mob action, public ridicule, and plundering of property, all of which the authorities ignored.

Thomas Nelson, I. (1997, c1995). Woman's study Bible . (Heb 10:32). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.