Dr. Vance Lackore's Manna in the Morning to Subscribe to the daily message send an email to: Dr. Vance Lackore E-mail Address: vlackore@tampabay.rr.com Manna in the morning 11-07-08 1 Peter 2:15-16, “For it is God's will that you, by doing good, silence the ignorance of foolish people. As God's slaves, live as free people, but don't use your freedom as a way to conceal evil.”             In this passage God the Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Peter, is telling us to do what is right.  Great emphasis is given by preachers and the Scriptures to the concept that Christians must live in accordance with God’s commands and to follow the path He has laid out for us.  There is another, equally valid and important concept taught in God’s Word and that is for us to do the right thing, to do good in all ways at all times.  This is sometimes downplayed because we are taught that nothing we can do is good in God’s eyes unless it is done for God’s glory and in His strength.  It’s true we can do nothing that can merit salvation and that our deeds do not help us attain heaven, but we should do good things because of the indwelling presence of God within us.              We do the right thing without thinking because God as asked us to silence the ignorant talk of the unredeemed because we have something they do not have.  We do not need to climb on the backs of those we have beaten down to rise above them, or to exalt ourselves.  We are indeed bond-servants out of our love for our God, but we are free from the terrible weight of sin, we are free from the devil’s hold on us, pulling us down into a pit from which we have been lifted by Jesus’ sacrifice.              No matter where we live, without regard to our surroundings, surpassing all the restrictions placed upon us by men, we are free, free to rise up and soar with the eagles, free to proclaim the joy and independence we enjoy in Christ, free to share the good news of our redemption, and the freedom to worship our Heavenly Father.  Our freedom is not to be used to sin, feeding our fleshly desires, then asking for forgiveness knowing God will forgive, instead we are filled with desire to bring great glory to our God through our daily life.              Our gracious Heavenly Father, as we walk through this day give us the grace and ability to do the right thing in Jesus’ name.  In this way make us messengers of your grace, in Jesus’ name we pray.