Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
1 Peter 1-3
Chapter two logically flows out of chapter one and is connected to it with the word therefore which draws the reader back to the subject of the Word of God. The Word of God was the content of Peter’s preaching. The life-changing power of the Word must affect our lives as Christians. Born again children of God should exhibit their new life in their day-to-day conduct. Believers ought to exhibit a different quality of life, marked by continuous growth.
Newborn babes connects chapter 2 directly with the last section of chapter 1 with its reference to new birth. “Newborn babies” does not indicate that these readers were new Christians. Some were thirty years old in the faith. All believers need to long for the spiritual milk or nourishment of God’s Word in the same way that a baby longs for milk. Desires refers to an intense and continuous desire. Spiritual growth begins and continues through the application of the Word of God.
These verses list five sins of attitude and speech that we must rid ourselves of if spiritual growth is to proceed. What needs to be cast off is not the grosser vices of paganism, but church and community destroying vices that are often tolerated by Christians today. Malice, an attitude similar to hatred, is the desire to inflict pain, harm, or injury on another person. It includes the holding of grudges and acting out of these grudges against others.Deceit refers to deliberate dishonesty, to speaking or acting with ulterior motives. Anything less than speaking the full and honest truth from the heart is deceit. This vice is the selfish, two-faced attitude that deceives and hurts others for personal gain.
Hypocrisy has an intriguing history. It comes from a verb meaning “to answer.” A hypocrite originally was simply a person who answered. From there, this word came to mean a person who is acting out a part and concealing his true motives. Envy must also be cast aside. Envy begins with a desire to possess what belongs to someone else. But it is more than this. It is a resentful discontent. Envy is the feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others.
None of these practices should have any place in those people who are born again. In obedience to the command of God, believers are to rid themselves of such attitudes and actions. Believers in Jesus Christ have experienced a taste of God’s grace in their lives. God’s grace is no excuse for us to behave as we please. The goodness and grace of God should be our greatest incentives to spiritual growth and progress.
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to live holy as you are holy.
- Lord, please help me to embrace the grace to live honoring to you, by being humble, teachable, and faithful.
- Lord, please help me to avoid sins that destroy others, but are often tolerated by so many.
Political
- US Representative Dan Kildee – District 5 – Flushing
- Representative Matt Koleszar – District 20 – Plymouth
- Representative Padma Kuppa – District 41 – Troy