From the Pastor’s Heart
I Peter 1:14- “As obedient children do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance”
September 28th – Pastor Mark Isbell
We have all had those run ins with kids either at the grocery store, dinner, or just playing at the park where you look at them and just feel sorry for their parents. I am sure many people look at my 4yr old and think the same thing. There is something within children that just make them do things and the only way to describe them is “CHILDISH”. The Bible has a term for acting this way; ignorance. Ignorance is not the same as dumb or stupid, but it actually means, “not knowing any better.” The reason kids are childish is because often they are ignorant of how they should act. Now if they are ignorant, do we blame the child or those teaching the children? (That is a discussion for another day) The question I want to address today is what is Biblical ignorance, and is it an excuse for believers in Christ.
Who is ignorant?
“They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.” Ephesians 4:18
The Bible is very clear to describe the unbeliever as ignorant. Once again this is not an attack against their intelligence or abilities, it is a statement of what they do not know. The world can not scientifically accept or comprehend a Creator because they do not have a relationship with Him. The world does not believe that God loves them completely, because they have no comprehension of sacrificial love outside of Christ (I John 3:16). At one point I was ignorant. But the truth was revealed to me by the Holy Spirit. I discovered the love that Jesus Christ has for me. The dark veil and hardness of my heart was lifted and now because I am no longer ignorant of the truth I am called to live by that truth.
Ignorance is a great excuse…… but you can’t use it anymore!
“I just didn’t know.” At some point we have all said this or heard it when we were being chastised. It is a great excuse, but can only be used once. As believers you no longer can use this excuse. God has revealed the truth of His word to you through the Holy Spirit. We are called to be Holy, because God is Holy. We are called to no longer live in childish ignorance, but live according to the truth of Scripture. I Peter 1 tells us how to live as obedient children.
Obedience requires an intentional decisions. I Peter 1:13 calls us to prepare “your minds for action”. You must make an intentional choice to follow after God’s commands. With that decision comes the knowledge that we will need God’s help in achieving it. That is why you must “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Now that you have made the choice to be obedient to God’s word, let me ask one question. What is the motivation for your obedience? Is it based out of fear, guilt, conviction, desiring to be better? I hope your answer is NO. Your motivation for obedience should be based in one thing. LOVE! John 14:15 sums it up so clearly. ”If you love me, you will keep (obey) my commandments.”
