| God wants His children to be “obedient children.” “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” God desires His children to obey His Word, for “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” and “the entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple,” “that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries.” God’s will is “that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,” but rather that we “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor.” “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” |
