October 26, 2021 – Tuesday
1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Comment.
Here I was looking for something with obey and conform and this is what I got, verse 14. But it was only the opening of a sentence that extended two more verses, so we ended up with three verses for our Verse/s of The Day. However, my focus will be upon verse 14.
What do you think Peter means when he writes, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance? Here I am assuming you know obedient children refers to believers, people who have come to faith in Christ. In fact, all people are God’s creations, but only those who have come to faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior are called His children. So, as His children, He wants us to be obedient children. And to be obedient children we are not be conformed to the passions of our former ignorance. In our former ignorance we likely made idols we worshipped without realizing it. Various idols could be: education, income/money, possessions (cars, homes, etc.), our bodies (fitness, looks, etc.), sports, ambition, and of course there are the following: alcohol, drugs, sex, narcissism, even our families. Anything we might put before or above God.
Clearly not all of those things listed are bad things in and of themselves. The question is where do we place them in the priorities of our life? Do they take away from time we might have or should have spent with God or in fellowship with other believers? I know from my own experience how easy it is for that to happen. So, what do we do? Someway, somehow, we have to begin by putting God first in our lives. No, we do not have to go to church every day and spend every evening reading the Bible or some commentary. BUT, we do have to spend time with God, in His book, the Bible and with Him, in prayer, and seek His direction in what and where we spend the rest of our time. Remember, time is the one absolutely irreplaceable commodity in your life. You have 24 hours in each day and there is no do over for that day, there is only the next day.
How do we begin? Perhaps by looking at the next verse, where we read you also be holy in all your conduct. We can begin by looking at what we are doing or not doing and asking ourselves in this conduct holy (without sin)? If not, then we know we need to change that behavior/conduct. It may be as simple as being kind to other people or having a kind word on a regular basis for those around us. For some, it may mean an end to the Friday night trips to a favorite bar. When you start looking at your life and asking yourself what you are putting above or before God you will find the answer to the question on what has to change. Pray on it and trust what you discover as a result of your prayer time.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you that I am one of your children through my faith in what Jesus did for me on the cross. He is indeed my Lord and Savior. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton in Beavercreek