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PARENTS AND CHILDREN

I OFTEN TELL MY PARENTS, "YOU GAVE ME A LOT OF GOOD ADVICE THAT I NEVER TOOK."

IT'S PART OF THE DIFFICULT OF BEING YOUNG - LOTS OF TIME, ENERGY, AND ZEAL BUT VERY LITTLE WISDOM, PERSPECTIVE, AND DIRECTION.

AS THE OLD PHRASE GOES, "YOUTH IS WASTED ON THE YOUNG."

THERE IS THIS INTERESTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN IN WHICH PARENTS DEEPLY LOVE THEIR CHILDREN AND ARE CHARGED TO RIGHTFULLY DEMAND OBEDIENCE FROM THEM.

MY PARENTS DEMANDED OBEDIENCE FROM ME AS A CHILD, AND THE OLDER I HAVE GOTTEN, THE MORE I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE OBEDIENCE THEY WERE PULLING OUT OF ME WAS NOT FOR THEIR LEISURE BUT FOR MY BENEFIT.

THE OBEDIENCE THEY REQUIRED OF ME MADE GAVE ME GREATER:

  • DISCIPLINE
  • WORK ETHIC
  • APTITUDES
  • ETC.

IN OTHER WORDS, OBEDIENCE ENRICHED MY LIFE.

WHEN WE GET TO 1 PETER, SOMETHING SIMILAR IS HAPPENING.

1 PETER 1:2

IN THIS PASSAGE, PETER IS TELLING GOD'S ELECT (HIS FAVORITE ONES) THAT:

  • GOD SEES THEM AND
  • THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SANCTIFYING THEM SO THAT
  • THEY MAY BE OBEDIENT TO CHRIST

 

"2 ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE FATHER, IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT, FOR OBEDIENCE TO JESUS CHRIST AND FOR SPRINKLING WITH HIS BLOOD:

MAY GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU."

1 PETER 1:2

NOTE THAT THE SPIRITS WORK AMONG THEM IS FOR OBEDIENCE.

WHY?

THAT GRACE AND PEACE MAY BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU (MORE ON THIS IN THE NEXT POST).

HOWEVER, FOR THE TIME BEING IT IS WORTH NOTHING THAT OBEDIENCE IS NOT FOR OUR HARM BUT FOR OUR GOOD.

OBEDIENCE

WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT LOVES DEFIANCE.

  • STUDENT DEFY TEACHERS.
  • CHILDREN DEFY PARENTS.
  • COLLEGE STUDENTS DEFY ADMINISTRATORS.
  • ETC.

THE WORLD WE LIVE IN DENOTES PEOPLE HAT BLINDLY OBEY "SHEEP."

AND WHILE THERE ARE SOME MOMENTS TO NOT OBEY (AND PROBABLY LOTS OF MOMENTS TO RESIST CULTURAL NORMS/PRESSURES), THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS ONE OF OBEDIENCE.

  • CHRIST OBEDIENT TO GOD
  • CHRISTIANS OBEDIENT TO CHRIST
  • IN THE HOME
    • HUSBANDS OBEDIENT TO CHRIST
    • WIVES OBEDIENT TO HUSBANDS
    • CHILDREN OBEDIENT TO FATHER AND MOTHER
    • ETC.
  • IN THE CHURCH
    • PASTORS OBEDIENT TO CHRIST
    • LEADERS OBEDIENT TO PASTORS
    • CONGREGATION OBEDIENT TO LEADERS
    • ETC.

1 PETER 1:2 SAYS THAT OBEDIENCE IS THE PATHWAY TO INCREASED GRACE AND PEACE.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU WANT MORE OF GOD'S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE, MORE OF GOD'S PEACE, MORE OF GOD'S GRACE - ORIENT YOUR LIFE TOWARDS JOYFUL OBEDIENCE.