1 Peter 2:1-3
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
The way Peter presents this is as if we’ve got two competing appetites, one is for the bible and the other is for covetous and sinful drives. He describes them as malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. It’s as if these two can’t coexist at the same time. It reminds me of Jesus’ comments in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
The presence of these things is simple test as to the depths of our devotion to The Lord. If we give room for them, the desire for God and the things of God are edged out. It’s more than that. It’s almost as if they are organic; they grow and overtake us.
Malice is having bad intent. Deceit is attempting to do something selfish by trickery. Envy is wanting something that another has. Slander is talking about someone in a manner that tears them down. This all comes down to us wanting things we don’t have. It’s wanting them so badly that it’s destructive to our character, it seeks to gain those things by bad means. If we can’t get them, we seek to tear down those that do.
A good portion of life is our pursuing things. They may be personal goals, position, status or things. There is nothing wrong with any of them. However, our craving after them can become destructive. That’s a big benefit to being in God’s Word. It points out where we are going overboard. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” It will bring to our attention thoughts and intentions we didn’t know were there.
Peter says, “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation”. Developing an appetite for God’s Word is like building a habit. We do it out of routine. After a while it become part of our day. Because it’s His Word, He begins to speak to us through it. Thus begins a healthy relationship with Him. It’s nourishing. Peter calls it milk that an infant craves. It’s feeds us. After a while it’s a necessity. A most wholesome addiction. As we develop an appetite for the bible, it drives out the dark motives. They become distasteful. After a while, we dislike hearing others go on with gossip. Not that we are better than them. It’s just depressing to hear it.
Lord, thank You for Your Word. Help us to remain in it. Let it bring to light and drive out the dark motives.