Verse of the Day 8/3

Verse of the Day 8/3

1 Peter 2:1-2  Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

New International Version (NIV)

Today's verses were part of our Men's Bible study group which meets on Monday mornings. In 1 Peter 1, the apostle had called for his readers to "prepare their minds for action"; not to be conformed to the societal thinking of the times and to focus on being set apart, and to focus on godly living.  The first word in verse 1 of chapter two looks back to this and then points to the path forward.  He calls his readers to "put away all malice"; all "deceit" and "hypocrisy" and "envy" and all "slander".  To that you could add just about any laundry list of other personal sins.  But think about those that he has mentioned.

You can easily use today's political setting as one that gives evidence of all of these things.  But before we trash the government and our leaders; we need to take a look at ourselves individually and also the church.  One of the biggest complaints about the church is our own hypocrisy.  Where do we begin to correct the things that are wrong?  We must get back to the basics and the milk of the "Word" and grow up.

John MacArthur notes that spiritual growth is always accompanied by craving for and taking delight in God's Word.  He writes that by it "a Christian develops a desire for the truth of God's Word; eliminating sin from his life; admitting his need for God's truth; pursuing spiritual growth; and surveying (including counting) his blessings.

Read the short passage below and consider how we are doing as individuals and as the church  And don't forget to count your blessings.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. Refrain: Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God has done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, *Count your many blessings, see what God has done. [*And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.]

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

1 Peter 2:1-5 English Standard Version (ESV)

A Living Stone and a Holy People

2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. ² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

⁴ As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ⁵ you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.