No Longer Ignorant

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance." Peter 1:14

ignorance - "the state or fact of being ignorant : lack of knowledge, education, or awareness."

The passage "your former ignorance," reminds me that many people who do not know Jesus live life differently than Christians.  Why is this significant?  If I begin to expect someone who does not know Jesus to live and act a certain way, than I am doing the kingdom of God a disservice.

Learning that people who are exposed to sin, just you and I are, and have not yet surrendered their lives to Christ, must be a reminder that: a) This world desperately needs Jesus Christ. b) My desire for someone to act a certain way is out of line.  You and I cannot save them, but only point them to Christ through our own surrender to Him.

If I joined a country club that required dues plus certain criteria were met in order to gain entry, it would be solely based on if I could afford the membership and met all the requirements. These members might act and live a certain way and might possibly treat non-members poorly.

The body of Christ not a country club.

At some point in our lives we were ignorant to His kingdom, but through His grace, we have been restored! You and I need to extent such grace to those who need Him now by loving anyone who might cross our path (agape love, which comes from Christ).

Jesus laid out one requirement, "Follow me."  Scripture expounds on what Jesus says in this statement, but it basically means, He wants you and I to completely surrender our lives to Him (heart, mind, soul and strength).  Romans 10:9-10, "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

This makes me consider several questions:

• Are you and I telling those who might be ignorant to the knowledge of Jesus Christ?

• Are you and I treating those who might be ignorant in a Christ-like manner?

• Are you and I allowing our former "passions" to control us now?

• Are you and I being "obedient children" to Christ?

May the word of God continue to change you and I, that we may point others to Christ; that anyone we communicate with would see, hear, feel and smell Christ all over us.

Blessings.