Hosanna Restoration Church

This chapter of the Bible begins by saying, Therefore be followers of God as dear children. Since it says therefore, we need to look and see what came before. At the end of chapter 3, the Word of God tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. Then we have a list of things that need to be removed from our lives, and behavior that we need to take on. Read the last three verses of chapter four. Better yet read the whole thing.

After reading that, one once again realizes that it will be a battle to get all of this out of our lives. An impossible battle without the strength that only God can give. So what can we do. We follow God, like a dear child. Notice is says to follow as dear children, not as rebellious children. Children who are dear, do not intentionally get lost, they just wander sometimes, but the instant that they realize they have lost sight of their parents they run to try and find them. Dear children don’t pitch a fit when they do not get their way. They may be disappointed, but they do not dig in their heals and make a scene.

We have all seen and experienced a rebellious child at one time or another. In fact, we have probably been one, and at times still are. When we are in rebellion, many of the very things we are told to put away from us begin to manifest. Usually it starts with minor things, but rebellion if it is allowed to grow will move right into the greater things listed in the next verses of chapter 5. We then see in verse 7, the Lord tells us not to be partakers in such activities. In deed, we were once darkness, but we are not supposed to be any more. We are not supposed be causing scenes by our rebellion, rather we are supposed to be proving what is acceptable to the Lord.(Vs. 10) And that is not by showing how awful it looks to do what is not acceptable.

In verse 14 we see a quote from Isaiah 26. If we find that we have been guilty of such things, the Lord says wake up, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light. We are told not to be foolish but wise. We are to redeem the time, not waste it. We have to quit with the idea that someday we will do what God wants. Today is the day.

How long will we rob ourselves of the good plans God has, simply because we do not understand what His will is, or neglect to prove it when we know it. Sometimes we are truly just ignorant of what the Word says, but other times we know and just don’t want to yield. It is like asking a child over and over if they heard you, and finally they say, “yes I heard, I just did not want to do it.”

If we truly understand what the will of the Lord is concerning us, it will be our deepest desire simply to please Him. Or to follow Him as a dear child. Happy to go where He leads and careful to keep Him in sight. Stopping where He stops, and going where He goes. Oh when we understand His will, we will watch for that cloud by day and the fire by night. The fact that He tells us to understand, reveals His willingness to show us His will.