As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. — 1 Peter 1:14 KJV
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. — 1 Peter 1:14 NIV
Reflection on Verse for Today
At the heart of this bible verse is a call to transformation. The imagery of “obedient children” paints a picture not just of innocence but of a deliberate act of will to follow the direction of a loving parent – in this case, our Heavenly Father.
We’ve all had pasts and periods in our lives where ignorance ruled, where we acted not out of a conscious choice for the good but out of impulse, societal pressure, or ignorance. The “evil desires” mentioned in this verse are not necessarily dramatic or overtly wicked acts but can be any desire that keeps us from the love and will of God.
Here we can see Peter REMINDS us that as we come to know Christ and understand His teachings and sacrifice, we’re called to leave that ignorance behind. This doesn’t mean that we won’t still face temptations or desires that aren’t in line with God’s will for our lives. Instead, the verse calls us to recognize them for what they are and to choose a different path.
It’s interesting that the verse uses the term “conform.” It suggests that these desires, these worldly pressures, are pervasive and easy to slip into. Just as a substance can take the shape of its container, our souls can, without vigilance, take on the shape of the world around us.
But as Christians, we are reminded that we’ve been given a new mold, a new shape to aspire to – the likeness of Christ. And just as a child looks up to and emulates their parents, we should look to our Heavenly Father and Christ for guidance and inspiration.
The challenge for us is twofold. First, it’s about daily introspection, checking our desires and actions against the benchmark of God’s Word. Second, it’s about living intentionally, making choices that reflect our status as “obedient children” of God, even when the world pressures us to do otherwise.
The grace and hope in all of this is that we’re not expected to do it alone. The Holy Spirit is there to guide, convict, and empower us. And when we sin, God’s grace is ever-present, ready to lift us up, renew us, and set us back on the path of obedience.
So this verse is not just a verse of admonition but one of hope. In Christ, and with the support of the Holy Spirit, we can leave behind our old selves and step into the fullness of what God intends for us: a life of purpose, love, and obedience.