First Peter

Verses one through five: In verse 1 the Lord, through Peter commands those in the church to remove sin from their lives. The words “laying aside” shows that sin eradication is a personal choice on the part of the parishioner.   Notice in verse 2 that true God-seekers will “desire the sincere milk of the word.” In order to be sanctified and cleansed by the “washing of the water by the Word” (Eph. 5:26) one must sincerely desire God’s Truth for the sole purpose of obeying it. God requires a “hunger and thirst” level sincerity in order to be “fed” by Him (Mat. 5:6). Only those who so crave His Truth/Word (Jn. 17:17) will be nourished by Him. There is only one food by which one can grow spiritually–the Holy Word of God which He arranged for us to have in abundance. In this world, anyone who wants a Bible can obtain one. Note also that growth in the knowledge of the Lord is commanded. Note also the use of the word “thereby,” which means that true spiritual growth can come only through the Holy Word of God.

The expression “newborn babes” is revealing relative to the Christian’s need for spiritual food. One will notice that a newborn baby nurses continuously during its waking hours. The craving for milk is seemingly insatiable. This describes the attitude of a true Christian toward God’s Word. After all these years I still get a thrill when I look at a Bible. I love God’s Word so much that if I could function on that “food” alone I would do so. I was talking with a person recently about how a true saint approaches the Word of the Lord–hungrily and thirstily–as if nothing else exists. I said something along these lines: “What else is there to desire? What else deserves our total focus? Certainly not the things of this world which will perish. Fame and fortune are only temporary; righteousness and the reward it will bring are eternal. Let us hunger and thirst for what is eternal.” Only the few who do so will enter the Kingdom of God (Mat. 7:13,14).

Verses four, five and nine: In verse 4 Jesus Christ is referred to as God’s “living Stone” that men have rejected but Whom God considers precious. Then in verse 5 He makes a most incredible statement: “YOU ALSO AS LIVING STONES are made into God’s spiritual house–A HOLY PRIESTHOOD ….” Do you see it? Those who hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness, dine on His Word, allow it to create His righteousness in them then live in obedience to It are called the same things Jesus is called: God’s “LIVING STONES,” His “HOLY PRIESTS,” His “SPIRITUAL HOUSE” where He lives and operates in the form of the Holy Spirit. In verse 9 God says to those who know, believe and obey His Word: “… ye are a chosen generation (people), a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people” who have answered His call to come “… out of darkness and into His marvelous light.” May we all do so. L.J.