Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 1:13-2:3
The New Birth – Continued
Because they are partakers of the divine life, Peter states some practicalities that Christians should put away once for all, namely the following unloving acts:
- Malice—the harboring of evil thoughts against another person. Malice nourishes antagonism, builds up grudges, and secretly hopes that revenge, harm, or tragedy will overtake another. George Washington Carver was refused admission at a university because he was black. Years later, when someone asked him the name of the university, he replied, “Never mind. That doesn’t matter now.” He harbored no malice.
- Deceit—any form of dishonesty and trickery (and what a variety of forms it takes!). Deceit falsifies income tax returns, cheats on exams, lies about age, bribes officials, and pulls shady deals in business.
- Hypocrisy—insincerity, pretense, sham. The hypocrite is a play-actor, pretending to be someone he is not. He pretends to be happily married when his home is actually a battlefield. He pretends to be spiritual on Sundays but he is as carnal as a goat on weekdays. He pretends interest in others but his motives are selfish.
- Envy—bare-faced jealousy. Vine defines it as the feeling of displeasure produced by observing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others. It was envy that caused the chief priests to deliver Jesus up to Pilate for death (Matthew 27:18). Envy is still a killer. Women can look daggers at others because of their better homes and gardens, smarter clothes, or superior cooking. A man can praise another fellow’s new car or speedboat but what he is thinking is, “I’ll show him. I’ll get something better.”
- Evil speaking—backbiting, malicious gossip, recrimination. Slander is the attempt to make oneself look cleaner by slinging mud at someone else. It may take very subtle forms such as: “Yes, she is a lovely person but she has this one failing. . . .” and then the knife is deftly thrust into her back. Or, sadly to say what happens in many churches, it may even have a religious pose: “I mention this only so that you might pray, but did you know that he. . . .” and then the character is assassinated.
All of these sins are violations of the fundamental commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves. No wonder Peter tells us to decisively rid ourselves of them.
Thirst For the Word
A second, yet no less important obligation flowing from our new birth is that, our new birth will cause us, or should cause us, to have an insatiable craving for the pure spiritual “milk of the Word.” The sins mentioned in the previous verse stunt spiritual growth; the good word of God nourishes it.
I want you to note, that in this case, the phrase “as newborn babes” does not necessarily mean that Peter’s readers were new believers; they may have been saved for several years. But young or old in the faith, they should thirst for the Word just as infants would cry for milk. We get some idea of the thirst of the healthy baby by the impatient, aggressive, determined way they suckle and swallow.
It is by the pure, unadulterated Word of God (the milk of the Word), that a believer grows up spiritually into a mature believer. The ultimate goal toward which all spiritual growth in this life is moving is conformity to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”
What a tremendous impetus for thirsting for the pure spiritual milk! The “if” does not express any doubt; as believers we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). His sacrifice for us was an act of unspeakable goodness and kindness (Titus 3:4). What we have already tasted of His kindness should sharpen our appetites to feed more and more on Him and His Word. The sweet taste of nearness to Him should make us dread the thought of ever wandering away from Him.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
You must be logged in to post a comment.