As Obedient Children

“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.” – 1 Peter 1:14-16

Of all the creation, in all the world, humanity is the only one that can deny God.  We are created with free will, and with that free will, the right of choice.  The ability to choose right and wrong, good and evil, heaven or hell.  Where there is no choice, there is no love; because we have choice, we can choose God, love towards God, and God’s love in us.   

Raising children is a constant spiritual education, in general, it is a constant education.  In their infancy, there exists within the ability to choose, but they are without the maturity to make choices.  As such, they are wholly dependent on the parents for life.  Without constant care they would perish.  Therefore, the parent must dictate to them when to sleep, when to eat, where to go, and where not go.  In the toddler phase, the game changes.  The toddler is observing, learning, and forming their own identity; the right to choose is now meeting the ability to.  Of course, it is still Mommy and Daddy’s job to dictate to the toddler right and wrong, good and bad; when to sleep, eat, play, etc.  What is good for them, and what is not good for them.  However, now the toddler seeks to dictate back, in fact, if the parent does not dictate what is right and wrong, the toddler will.  As a heard a wish preacher once say: “you better have something for them, because they always got something for you.”  Someone will be the dictator in the household: them or you.  This clash of wills is indicative of humanity’s relation with the Father.  It is also the opportunity for the spiritual man/women to take notes.  For we are not so different from toddlers.  The carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be.  God has dictated to us the boundary lines and is willingly, lovingly, guiding us into Himself.  However, when we are bound with sin, that sinful nature wants to clash with the guidance and correction of God.  Jesus Christ paid the price to liberate us out of that sin, and that nature; to bring us back into fellowship with the Father.  The Holy Ghost is both the evidence of that fellowship and the necessary agent of maintaining it.  The Holy Ghost is “leading me and keeping me from sin and in the way.”  As the song says.  When Peter writes “as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves…”  He is highlighting this truth.  What parent is not pleased with a willing obedient child?  What parent is not thrilled when they ask their children to do something, and they obey?  Could you force the child to obey?  Certainly, but how much sweeter is the willingness to?  How perfect the example of love, when the child lay’s down its own will and takes up the instruction of the father (or mother)?  This fashioning is contrary to the nature of the child.  The same it is contrary to the nature of sin.  Sin dictates itself to the world, it is the self-impression on the world.  Holiness dictates itself to we who yield, purging us from all sin, and making us into an imitation of Christ, to this world.  

As he which calls you is holy, so be ye holy.  Jesus was the first holy man to walk the earth.  He was without sin.  He obeyed the will of the Father, willing.  He chose a life of poverty over a life of pleasure.  He chose a life of preaching over a life of treasure.  He chose a wooden cross over a golden throne.  Yes, it was in the plan of God, but it was carried out by a willing Christ.  It is predestined to every one of us to be holy as he is holy, but we must choose the way of holiness.  In that choice we both reciprocate and manifest the love of God toward us.