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1 Peter 2:1-3
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. This is one of those places in Scripture where God tells us to stop one way of living and begin a new way of life. Every true Christian should give this passage serious thought because it is one those life and death passages. Notice first Peter teaches us to
- DISCARD THE SHAMEFUL MANNERISM OF WICKEDNESS! Read verse 1. Peter continues his theme that we as Christians must live our lives before the unsaved in such a manner as to cause them to want to come to Christ. We do that by “ridding” our lives of all those heinous sins that would keep us from loving each other as God loves Christ. When you see a tick, bed bug, or one of those big ugly garden spiders on you, do you say “Oh look, one of God’s little creatures.” Or do you immediately react in such a way as to get the thing off you, then shake all over to be sure it’s gone?” Most of us do the latter! That’s the idea of Peter’s word “rid” when he says “rid yourselves of all…” He then lists those sins that destroy the fellowship between true Christians. We are to get rid of all malice, which is evil behavior and rampant wickedness. In daily living it looks and sounds like anything that would cause someone who is unsaved to hesitate in their desire to become a Christian and become part of God’s family. Next we rid ourselves of all deceit, which is error, cunning, treachery. It shows itself in one who lives and talks against the principles upon which a true NT local church is built. It’s misrepresenting the true effect salvation has on a person’s life. It is a first cousin to hypocrisy, which is a lie expressed in outward activities that deliberately intend to mislead or deceive. The best definition of hypocrisy comes from Jesus in his references to the Pharisees and Sadducees. Another word for hypocrisy is legalism! Finally, we are to rid ourselves of envy, which is simply an ungodly sorrow for that which one does not have. Envy is an internal cancer that eats away at a person’s soul. It shows itself in literal hatred expressed toward a true Christian known to walk daily with The Lord. Envy says, “I know you are a Godly person, and I wish I was; but I am so addicted to my ungodliness, that it is easier for me to attack you and try to hurt your image, than it is for me to let God enrich my life as He has enriched yours.” If you have dealt with these awful sins and God has given you grace to overcome them, praise Him. Also remember you are the target of those who suffer with these maladies. Pray for them, and remember, you are a source of hope to them as you daily love them in spite of their mistreatment of you. Ask God to open doors that will give you the opportunity to share how He has helped you through your personal struggles with these things; and encourage those who attack you to give Him the same freedom to deliver them. God will reward you both.
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