1 Therefore, get rid of all ill will and all deceit, pretense, envy, and slander. 2 Instead, like a newborn baby, desire the pure milk of the word. Nourished by it, you will grow into salvation, 3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 Now you are coming to him as to a living stone. Even though this stone was rejected by humans, from God’s perspective it is chosen, valuable. 5 You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple. You are being made into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Reflection
In chapter 1 of first Peter the apostle has described the excellence of God’s Word calling it incorruptible seed that lives forever. He tells the people that through God’s mercy God has given them new birth through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Through Christ we believe in God, who raised Jesus from the dead and glorified him, and so our faith and hope are in God. As obedient children, we do not conform to the evil desires that we had when we were ignorant and not yet faithful. Just as he who called us is holy, so are we holy in all we do.
In Chapter 2 verse 1 Peter begins by issuing a warning to put off sin knowing that even the best Christians need to be cautioned and warned against sin because we are sanctified in part and therefore able to be tempted; fully holy in God’s sight yet still growing in personal holiness.
We can think of the apostle as a wise doctor who has diagnosed and named a sickness and now prescribes a strong and constant desire for the word of God, “pure milk,” food for the soul, where the mind, not the body, is nourished and strengthened.
Verse 2. Strong desires and affection to the word of God is sure evidence of a person’s being born again. If a person, like a child, desires milk, that person, like a new-born, has little knowledge, but knows its need is real.
Growth and improvement in wisdom and grace should be the desire of every Christian. Spiritual growth comes through learning, improvement, and uplifting. The word of God, rightly used, does not leave a person unchanged. It makes us better.
Verse 3 is saying in effect, our own spiritual growth is a proof that God is both good and gracious.
1 Peter 2:4 assures us that the Lord spoken of here is the Lord Jesus Christ. Coming to Him. “Coming,” means to remain in Christ’s presence with intimate fellowship both personally and corporately.
1 Peter 2:5 describes a living stone as both a metaphor and paradox. This phrase from the OT emphasizes that Christ is the cornerstone; today we might use the word foundation. God is taking living stones that have life because of the living stone and building a spiritual house. God is building one house, and he wants all of us “stones” to fit snugly into that building.
We were dug out of the quarry of sin to be cemented together by the grace of God.
This AI description below, of our scripture, might be interesting to you?
2 Peter 1:1-5 tells us that because God has already given believers everything needed for a godly life through knowing Jesus, they should actively work to add strong character traits (like goodness and self-control) to their faith. The scripture emphasizes using God’s promises to escape worldly corruption and grow spiritually. Peter urges Christians to take the faith they received and build upon it to live a productive, fruitful, life that reflects God’s nature rather than the world’s.
Key Meaning in Simple Terms:
- You Have Everything You Need (Verses 1-3): Peter tells Christians that God’s power has already gifted them everything necessary for a godly life. It’s not about earning salvation, but utilizing the tools God has already provided.
- Escape Worldly Corruption (Verse 4): By trusting God’s “precious promises,” believers can escape the sinful, selfish desires (“lusts”) that corrupt the world.
- Make Every Effort to Grow (Verse 5): Because God provided the tools, believers must now act diligently—this is where faith meets effort. It is a call to actively add godly character to their initial faith
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
How do you envision your faith?
Who do you know, or see, who has faith but needs a partner to help achieve a worthwhile goal?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the lessons Your Word teaches and for its power, brought by your Spirit, which is so needed in this time when the foundations of our faith are being attacked in new ways. Help us to more strongly desire your Word so that we may grow in grace, mature in faith, and seek for greater relationship with you through your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
