Have you ever felt like you did not fit in with others, either at school or maybe at work? Maybe you felt like you just weren’t wanted around by others. Some people were an unwanted child, and ended up in an orphanage or foster home. For others, though their parents kept them, they let them know they weren’t wanted. Some children are the last to be picked for a team, or are never invited to join a club. This sometimes continues on into the workplace or in social groups. However, there is Someone who is eager to choose you for Himself. This is one of the subjects that the Apostle Peter touches on in our Scripture today. Let’s see what God has to teach us today.
In his first general letter to believers, Peter instructs us to put away sin from our life, to desire God’s Word, and live as His chosen people, built upon the Lord Jesus, the Cornerstone. He begins by listing five sins for believers to get rid of in their life (vs. 1). We might think that big things like murder, harming children, or robbing a bank would top the list. However what he lists are malice (a desire to do evil), deceit, hypocrisy (pretending to be spiritual while hiding sin), envy, and evil speaking (slander and gossip). These destroy our fellowship with God and our spiritual growth. Contrary to what some may think, these are not respectable sins, and must be rooted out of our life in order to grow as a Christian. God’s love for us should motivate us to reject these behaviors.
What will help us grow as Christians? Newborn babies desire milk, which helps them grow. For a believer, our “milk” is God’s Word (vs. 2-3). We should be desiring it just like a baby does his milk. Reading the Bible shouldn’t be something we just check off of a list of things to do. We should want to get into God’s Word every day. Peter says to desire the “pure milk of the Word”, which is the Bible, not just other “spiritual” literature. They cannot replace the Bible, and one must be especially careful that they aren’t teaching false doctrine. Just as a good mother is extremely careful of what her baby eats, so must we be very careful with what we take in spiritually.
As Peter continues, he speaks on how as believers we have come to Jesus, the Living Stone (vs. 4). He was rejected by men, but was chosen by God. He is “living”, emphasizing His resurrection. A stone is strong, stable, and is used to build a foundation, which Jesus is in our life. As believers, we share in His life as lively stones (vs. 5). We are built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, offering to God spiritual sacrifices, such as worship, obedience, and praise.
Peter then quotes from Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone. Believers who trust in Him will not be put to shame. Unbelievers will stumble because they disobey the Word of God. Just as a building’s foundation is built on a strong rock so that it won’t move, our spiritual life needs to be built on the strong, solid foundation of Jesus. Christ divides humanity into two groups - those who believe and are built upon Him, and those who reject Him and stumble into judgment.
As we continue on, Peter gives four titles for believers who follow Jesus - a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His own special people (vs. 9). You may be ignored or rejected by others, but when you follow Jesus, He has chosen you to be His redeemed people. We are a royal priesthood, priests with kingly dignity, and access to God, with authority to represent Him. As a holy nation we are set apart from the world, and as such we should be following God’s Word and not cultural trends. As Christians we are God’s special people, His treasured possession purchased by the Blood of His Son.
As this Scripture passage comes to a close, Peter alludes to the first two chapters of the prophet Hosea. We were once alienated from God, but are now adopted by Him (vs. 10). We were once without mercy, but now we are recipients of His abundant mercy.
As we look back over these verses from I Peter, let’s be sure to continue growing as Christians, and not stay as babies. We do that by taking generous portions of God’s Word each day. We should also remember that none of us has to ever feel unwanted, abandoned or rejected, because God has called our names. He has chosen us for His family. Remember who you are in the Lord. It is only when we remember who we are that we can call others out of darkness and into the light of Jesus.
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