Scripture:  1 Peter 2:1-3

1So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Observations:

“So” — Why is the “so” there?  The “So” links the Gospel work of Jesus in my life through God’s Word (1:23-25) to make me more loving with some not so loving actions that must be cast away.

Attitudes and related actions to set aside from my life:

Malice–the intent to harm another person.

Deceit–the intent to trick another person in order to get something I want.

Hypocrisy–the often automated approach to life in which we pretend we are something when we are not in order to hide the truth from another person.

Envy–the burning desire to have what other people have; often accompanied by a self-righteous judgment of the person who has what we want.

Slander–the intent to harm another person’s reputation in order to elevate ourselves over them.

Like a newborn crave milk, so that you can grow up in your salvation.  Since you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Application:

It seems mom was right.  Candy before dinner ruins your appetite for the really good stuff that provides the most excellent nutrients for growth.  And yes there are attitudes and actions that ruin my appetite for Jesus and the “simple” truths of His Word.

The problem with malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander is that they are terribly addictive!  They will cover up the true appetite for Jesus and His Word fueled the Holy Spirit’s work in our life.  They seem like powerful tools for getting what we want; but they are actually terrible tyrants.

The first step in setting them aside is to recognize their presence in our lives.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father thank you for the grace of knowing you.  Show me today how I ruin my appetite for you by letting these attitudes and actions so opposed to the love and holiness of Jesus reside in my heart.  I repent of them and ask your Spirit to generate a renewed delight in you.  You are good.  AMEN.