1st Peter 1:14. “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:”
OBEDIENT CHILDREN. The Father knows – a child may often question The Father waits – a child acts without hesitation The Father can see what is far ahead A child jumps to conclusions without a thought instead.
The Father has experience – the child very little or none The Father knows unseen results – the child just wants his work done The Father has authority – the child wants his own way The Father’s word is law – the child careless about what he says.
An obedient child will wisely stop to consider What the Father says and how he came hither An obedient child not knowing what might happen Will trust his Father who sustains and keeps him.
The obedient child brings great joy to his Father What the Father asks of him he will not try to alter The obedient child expresses his love when he acts Without an argument with his Father who he completely trusts.
Ignorance fades when the child is obedient And the Father can trust him with things more significant Maturity of the child produces in the Father a trust In the willingness of the child to act in ways the Father can bless.
“This morning Father, I have a contented spirit as I think of the willingness of this young man and his wife to act on Thy will. The growth and maturity that were missing in the past is evident. The heart of a caring shepherd is there. He still needs to work with others he may not always agree with or even like very much. Work with them and in them I pray, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
1Peter.1:14-16. “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written,” Be ye holy, for I am holy.”
HOLINESS. Some words are really intimidating because of the implied expectations that seem so impossible. And yet holiness is a command of God to His suffering children. How can this be? Integrity is rooted in the very character of God, and so one who is publicly set apart for God is charged to be “holy." We can never merit salvation through our own holiness; that only comes through the holiness and righteousness of Christ. But we have been made holy (sanctified) through the blood of Christ [Heb.10:10]. We have been made holy and are called to be holy in our lives. The purpose behind this is that we might be holy and blameless before Him in love. Holiness is necessary for fellowship with God. Holiness is required for my own well-being. Holiness is required for effective service for God. Holiness is required for real assurance of salvation. There is a holiness that is imparted but it is necessary that I pursue holiness as well. Dying to sin is something that Christ has done for me. Sin cannot have dominion and yet I am challenged to not let it reign in my mortal body. The potential for resisting sin is within me, placed there by God. The responsibility for resisting sin is mine. To live a holy life is to live in conformity to the moral precepts of the Bible. It is not a series of prohibitions or a peculiar style of dress and mannerisms that are to lead me to seeming perfection. It is more an awareness that I have been consecrated to God; to a life that is different; to non-conformity that keeps me from being a gossip, a covetous, bitter person, and leads me to practice and experience the fruit of the Spirit.
“O Holy Father: I know it is right that the expectations be high because I am Your child. There is this problem that I have and that is, I have this tendency to be like those around. I want to get rid of this chameleon-like tendency to blend in. I really want to be an up-stream Christian in a down-stream world. I want to be at the head-waters of faith when the Lord comes. Please take this changing skin off me so the Spirit of God can give me the needed power to go against the tide. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.” BE HOLY Our response to such a glorious salvation calls for mental action in which, with serious and thoughtful minds we prepare ourselves by rejecting a shallow, flippant attitude toward eternal things. By looking ahead to the final aspects of saving grace when our Lord comes, we obey our Father and conduct our lives in accordance with the divine nature He has given us. This involves a consistent desire for holiness that can make holiness real.
We have been adopted into His family and our lives and works reflect on the One who has called us. He is holy and set apart from sin and impurity. it is only right that we also be set apart from a worldly lifestyle both in our speech and all aspects of our conduct. The moral perfections of our Lord move us to live in moral purity. One who is truly sober is a disciplined person who can be trusted with important things. To set our "hope" on something means we are focused on suitable things, not scattered in a careless way. Our God is holy and He is the standard of holiness for all of His children. He is a God of mercy and justice who is committed to His children and cares for them. When His children are like Him in holiness, they should be merciful and just. They should be willing to make necessary sacrifices for the eternal welfare of others.