Following Christ is life changing. When we become Christians we turn away from our former lives and begin a new life in Christ. It is pretty simple. What’s not so simple is figuring out what, if anything is required of us as followers. Ask any follower and you will get different answers. One will tell you the does and don’ts of living a Christian life and the next will tell you there is nothing you can do (or have to do). How can we know what to do? Where to turn? Who to talk to? Myself, I prefer the Holy Bible, Gods direction manual for us. His GPS if you will. I like to read my Bible daily and all too often I get behind in my reading. I do not set a standard of reading for myself. If I get to read a chapter a day, that’s okay. If I get to read several, then all the better. If I don't get to read any then I am the one who is poorer for it.
Recently I was reading in I Peter and noticed right after he told us that we have an “inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in Heaven for you by the power of God, having been kept through faith to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (vs 4 & 5) He then tells us in verses 13 -16, “Therefore girding up the loins of your mind, being sober, perfectly hope for the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance, but according to the Holy One who has called you, you also become holy in all conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'"
He calls us to be obedient children. And apparently we are to leave the former lusts of our ignorance. The only problem here is, if I get saved as a child, say 5 to 18 years of age and have always been basically good, then what former lusts are there? As mature adults and even immature adult Christians that question is probably easily answered. But for a young person who has never lived in open, rebellious sin the question is not so easily answered.
I would challenge you, no matter what category of Christian or lifestyle you fall into, to read the book right before I Peter. Read James and read it several times through and meditate upon its words and pray about what it says to you. There is a lot of direction in it for those who are confused about what to do now that I am on the path to follow Christ.
