1 Pet 2

2:1
So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all
slander.
2
And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you
may grow up to salvation,
3
if you have experienced the Lord’s kindness.
4
So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and
precious in God’s sight,
5
you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be
a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to
God through Jesus Christ.
6
For it says in scripture,
“Look, I lay in Zion a stone,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and whoever believes in him
will never be put to shame.”
7
So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe,
“the stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
8
and,
“a stumbling-stone
and a rock to trip over.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of
his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out
of darkness into his marvelous light.
10
You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people.
You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11
Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from
fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,
12
and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they
now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God
when he appears.
13
Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a
king as supreme
14
or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise
those who do good.
15
For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing
good.
16
Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as
God’s slaves.
17
Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.
18
Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those
who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse.
19
For this finds God’s favor, if because of conscience toward God someone
endures hardships in suffering unjustly.
20
For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if
you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.
21
For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving
an example for you to follow in his steps.
22
“He committed no sin
nor was deceit found in his mouth.”
23
When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he
threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.
24
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross,
that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness;
“By his wounds you were healed.”
25
For “you were going astray like sheep”
but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

One thought:

It really is good to be God’s people. We are precious to Him, we have tasted of His goodness and seen His wonderful light. We are His people and His priests through Jesus Christ.

Three questions:

How are we the same/different to the priests of the Old Testament?

Do you crave ‘pure spiritual milk’? Or do you try to grow through other means (self-help, moralism etc.)

Take a moment to identify a sin that is waging war against your soul? Ask someone to pray for you about this.

Prayer:

Give thanks that we are His chosen people and precious in His sight.

Ask that God would help you crave the spiritual milk that can be found in the Scriptures.

Ask God to help you fight the sin wars being wages in your body/soul.

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