7 Invites to Life, Peace & Joy

Traps & Freedom

Here are 7 ways of living that might look like freedom, but really are traps:

… people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, …. – 2 Timothy 3:2 (NASB)

But there is good news. We can live free of all 7 of those traps! There are antidotes in Christ that bring the kind of freedom that includes life, peace, and joy.

Woman on mountaintop, next to cross, pointing up

… the kingdom of God is… righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17-18 (NASB)

Invites to Life, Peace & Joy

Here are some of God’s beautiful invitations in the way that leads away from the 7 traps listed in 2 Timothy 3:2, and into life, peace, and joy.

Trap #1: Love Only Yourself…

Freedom: Love God and Your Neighbor

Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

Trap #2: Love Your Money

Freedom: Use Worldly Resources Jesus’ Way

Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. – Luke 16:9 (NLT)
You yourselves know that these hands served my own needs and the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:34-35 (NASB)

Trap #3: Be Boastful and Proud

Freedom: Humble Yourself

“God… favors the humble.” – James 4:6 (NLT)
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. – James 4:10 (NLT)

Trap #4: Scoff at God

Freedom: Be in Love with God

Return to your first love – Revelation 2:4-5
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God…. – Romans 8:28 (NASB)
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. – Jude 20-21 (NASB)

Trap #5: Disobey Parents

Freedom: Honor & Obey Parents in the Lord

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY TURN OUT WELL FOR YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. – Ephesians 6:1-3 (NASB)

Trap #6: Be Ungrateful

Freedom: Be Thankful

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)
…in everything … with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. – Philippians 4:6 (NASB)

Trap #7: Consider Nothing Sacred

Freedom: Consider Sacred What Scripture Calls Sacred

God’s name – Exodus 30:7; Luke 2:49
Marriage – Hebrews 13:4
God’s people – Colossians 1:22, 3:12; Hebrews 3:1; 1 Peter 1:16, 2:9; Mark 6:20; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 13:2; Revelation 22:11
God’s Spirit – Matthew 3:11, 12:32, 28:19; Mark 1:8, 13:11; Luke 1:15, 11:13, 12:12; John 14:16, 14:26, 20:22; Acts 2:4, 2:38, 4:31, 5:32, 6:5, 7:55, 8:15, 8:17, 9:17, 10:38, 10:44-45, 10:47, 11:15-16; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6, 4:8; 2 Timothy 1:14; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 2:4; 1 Peter 1:12; 2 Peter 1:21; and many more
Places special to God and set apart by him – Matthew 4:5, 24:15, 27:53; Acts 7:33, 21:28; Hebrews 9:2, 3, 8, 12, 24, 25, 10:19; Revelation 11:2
Things set apart – Matthew 7:6
Angels (not including fallen angels, Jude 6-7) – Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; Acts 10:22, Revelation 14:10
Jesus – Luke 1:35, 4:34; John 6:69; Acts 2:27, 3:14, 4:27, 4:30; Hebrews 7:26; Revelation 3:7
God’s prophets from ancient times – Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21; 2 Peter 2:21, 3:2
God’s covenant with Abraham – Luke 1:72
Firstborn males – Luke 2:23
God the Father – John 17:11; Revelation 4:8, 6:10, 15:4, 16:5
Orders given by Jesus to the apostles – Acts 1:2
Baptism with God’s Spirit – Acts 1:5
God’s power – Acts 1:8; Romans 15:13
God’s mercies – Acts 13:34
Law of God and individual commandment of God – Romans 7:7-12
Believers’ bodies – Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 3:17, 6:19
Non-Jewish believers in God – Romans 15:16
Kiss of greeting among saints – 1 Corinthians 16:20; Romans 16:15; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26
Children of believers – 1 Corinthians 7:14
Unmarried woman – 1 Corinthians 7:34
A living temple of God into which all believers are being built – Ephesians 2:20-22
God’s church – Ephesians 5:27
God’s apostles and prophets in the church age – Ephesians 3:5
God’s people who have part in the first resurrection – Revelation 20:6
Believers’ hands – 1 Timothy 2:8
Believers’ calling – 2 Timothy 1:9
Overseer in the church – Titus 1:8
Believers’ behavior and conduct – 1 Peter 1:15; 2 Peter 3:11
God – 1 Peter 1:15-16
God’s people: a holy priesthood, a holy nation – 1 Peter 2:5, 9
(Holy) women of former times who hoped in God – 1 Peter 3:5
A mountain where Peter and others were with Jesus – 2 Peter 1:18
A commandment from God – 2 Peter 2:21
Anointing of believers – 1 John 2:20
Many thousands of God’s holy ones – Jude 1:14
Believers’ faith – Jude 1:20
The Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God – Revelation 21:2, 10

… the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:6 (NASB)

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