Are you in a time of waiting? Perhaps you’re waiting for an appointment or for information or something else. As we wait this week, we’ve been cleaning a winter’s worth of storm debris. Fits well with where we are in 1 Peter.
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind” (1 Peter 2:1).
- Therefore, since we have been born again through God’s Word…
- Therefore, since we put our faith into practice by living a holy life…
- Therefore, since we commit to love one another as God has loved us…
Earlier we discovered the gifts of hope include love and joy. We practice hope when we lay aside debris that keeps us from love and joy.
To love purely, Peter advised his readers to lay aside attitudes and behaviors that have a negative impact on interpersonal relationships.
- malice (endeavoring to do evil to others, being inherently evil)2
- evil thoughts and harmful intentions
- guile
- fraud
- deceit
- hypocrisy and false pretensions
- envy and jealousy
- slander and speaking evil of others
Quite a list!
We are to “cast off the works of darkness.”1
*How do these “works of darkness” create debris that clutters our joy?
*How do these attitudes and behaviors affect our ability to love another?
The yard work clears the way for new growth. Once we’ve attacked the above list, we have room for new growth in our life.
Peter said it this way,
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).
- Peter described those who have recently embraced Christianity as an example for all of his readers.
- The words in his phrase “newborn babies” are used only here in the New Testament.3
- Regardless of how long we have known Jesus, we are to earnestly desire and long for spiritual nourishment.4
- “Pure” as used here means sincere, without deceit or fraud and is also unique to Peter.
- Our approach to and desire for God’s Word should be sincere, in contrast to our (previous) sinful approach to life.
- We clear the weeds from our path so we may allow the good seed of God’s Word to take root in our life.
- Perhaps Peter used the phrase “grow up” to continue the example of those who are “newborn” in Christ.
- But the word “grow” has the meaning of increasing5 and going beyond.
- Zodhiates defined it “figuratively, the sincere and sweet word of Christ by which believers grow in grace and are nourished to eternal life.”6
*What have you done to make room for new growth in your life?
*What does it mean to have a sincere desire for God’s Word?
Our craving for spiritual nourishment comes from our initial taste of God’s goodness.
“now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:3).
- Imagine that first bite of your favorite food, which leads to a second bite of deliciousness.
- In this translation, “now” appears as a simple linking word.
- It has greater meaning: if indeed, or assuming this is true
If indeed you have tasted that God is good…
Assuming the truth that God is good…
Then by all means crave this spiritual food!
*Why is it significant that Jehovah Adonai (my Lord) offers us spiritual nourishment?
*How is the truth of God’s Word linked to His goodness?
*What spiritual nourishment from God’s Word do you crave?
The word “good” is almost like empty calories—used so often in a generic sense it has no meaning.
Translated by some as “gracious,” it means “useful toward others, good-natured, gentle, kind.”7
That’s the God we know!
He is Lord. Jehovah.8
*How has God been gracious, gentle, and kind toward you?
- Spiros Zodhiates Th.D., The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament (Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, 1992), 240.
- Ibid., 807.
- Ibid., 345.
- Ibid., 923.
- Ibid., 289.
- Ibid., 353.
- Ibid., 1482.
- Ibid., 900.