Of course, faith and reflection not only lift us up and give rise to rejoicing and great assurance, they also bring about holiness. ‘As obedient children’ – there is more in that than meets the eye.
The Greek word translated ‘fashioning’ is very interesting and it could equally be taken to mean, ‘not permitting yourself to be moulded according to the former lusts.’ That pattern of life had become our habit, but the habit was broken at conversion and a new principle was put within us. You have been saved; if you realise you are children, you won’t allow yourself to drift back to the ways of the world, to the clothing of the world, sometimes sexually dangerous clothing, to the expensive, fashionable, showing-off clothing of the world, to the mannerisms and the shallow, contrived, affected ways of the world in your behaviour, to the things that the world does and its entertainments. You won’t allow yourself to slip back into all that.
It's a very good thing to see obedience in children, to see a young family where the children are willingly and happily obedient to their parents. Not all children are. There were those that have very strong personalities, independent ideas, and are strong minded, and it’s more difficult for their parents to secure obedience. Maybe it's a sign of future strengths, but there are young rebels. But it is, all agree, something of particular beauty to see respectful and obedient children. This is what we are called to be. The illustration is set before us: an obedient family. We seek to make ourselves always submissive to the will of God as revealed in his word, open to him, compliant before him, ready to hear every challenge and exhortation. Day by day even, we check out the things we plan and the things we do, not allowing ourselves to be conformed to the world, so as to fit in. This is the opposite of what is often taught today. People are told, ‘Conform culturally; respect the culture; do what they do to reduce the gap between you and the worldling. Be ready to engage in conversation about worldly things. Go to the same places, the same entertainments. Merge with the culture in order to be relevant and significant. But it's the exact opposite of these solemn words: ‘not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.’ What were your former lusts before conversion? Do you watch for them and their rising influence? Do you hate them? Do you pray for power to reject them, and turn yourself to better things?