Give Thanks for Freedom in Christ!

We’re well into summer vacation season!

Oh, the memories of holidays at the lake, cookouts, parades, and fireworks. Those were sweet days of my childhood! Brothers and sisters, if you’re longing for yesterday, I pray these words from 2 Peter will comfort and strengthen you today. Remember: 

“…you’re a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you’re the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live 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. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it’s God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:9-17)

So enjoy your freedoms, your time to relax with family, and the privilege to live for God’s eternal purposes. 

I invite you to join us at Crown’s 2023 Reunion. We plan to gather October 12-15 at Ridgecrest Conference Center near beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. For more details and registration, go to crown.org/reunion.