“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:14, ESV)
The day arrives, sometimes even unexpectedly, when a young person is handed their very own cell phone … and it is such a glorious day for them!
Guidelines are established by the parents … rules are put in place … discussion ensues … and agreement is established with assurance of what would take place if disobedience occurs.
Then … well, there really is such a thing called ‘parental patience’ and the phone stays in the hands of the young person who had disobeyed and asserted his/her own will for another opportunity to show respect and gratitude.
Then … well, we all know where this article is going, don’t we? Violation … disobedience … disregard of those who have charge over their upbringing and development physically, emotionally, and most of all, spiritually!
Obedience is not something that is age-specific! From a very early age, we are taught to obey. Why? Because as an infant tries very early in the life process to assert their will … to test the waters so-to-speak … to see just how far they can go … we are all tempted to do the same thing at every age!
Even as we understand that a six- month old baby doesn’t know what is best for them … even a sixty-year old doesn’t either! We are all in need of guidance and direction. The old prophet Jeremiah was guided by the Spirit of God to write these words, “I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)
Parents who are genuinely trying to help and protect their children say NO! Why? Because they do know better about decisions and choices … and because authority, respect and honor need to be learned early in life!
Our Heavenly Father who made us … loves us so much, cares for us so much … and knows what is best for us without exception! He alone knows the consequences that lie around the bend or down the street of life … and He knows that the honest heart will soon regret their bad choice!
Are we thinking about all of this as we should?
We don’t know what is best! So why do we disobey Him? Why do we make so many bad choices … do the wrong thing … say the wrong thing … and far too often listen to the voices of the world and our adversary, Satan? Because we think we know best!
The apostle Peter reminded these early Christians and the warning has been preserved for us: When we choose to follow the Lord … we no longer belong to ourselves, but to the Lord! God has spoken and what He has spoken was spoken for a reason!
We lose when we disobey!
“Then Jesus told His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.’” (Matthew 16:24, ESV)
Bill Fairchild, Jr
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