Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2.1-10

Scripture

So like new born babies you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Observation

We are to crave spiritual milk so that we can grow in the Lord. We have come to Christ, the cornerstone of God’s temple. We are like living stones that build the temple, even priests offering daily sacrifices that are pleasing to the Lord.

Jesus is the cornerstone but He is a stumbling stone to those who reject God’s word. We are God’s chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation.

Application

When we first come to Christ we are described as being born again. Spiritually we are babies. New born babies are dependent on others, don’t know much, and cry when provoked. While babies are delightful, nobody wants them to stay that way.

Yet we have many spiritual babies who have never matured in their faith despite being saved for 10 years, 20 years, even 50 years or more. They are content to stay the way they are- infants in their thinking and unable to do much in the body of Christ.

Peter tells the new-borns they must crave pure spiritual milk. That means reading the Bible, listening to teachers and pastors, being mentored by mature christians, learning to pray and to minister to others.

We have taught people to fall over the starting line of the race and to stay there rather than running to the finish line. Too many christians remain dependent on others when they should already be growing in Christ and helping others to do the same.

There are many churches that feed their people Diet Coke Zero rather than milk, let alone meat. People go to be entertained but never challenged or shown how to grow.

We take God’s grace, and that should move us to cry “More, Lord!” His tender mercy is meant to move us into deeper intimacy with Him, which is then expressed in the way we relate to others, the way we relate to God and our behaviour and motivations through life.

Prayer

Lord, I need you to mature me, to grow me, to show me how to live for you. Please help me to crave your spiritual food. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2.19-21

Scripture

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we might die to our sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Observation

This passage is primarily directed at slaves being punished by harsh masters, but it is applicable to every believer.

It is commendable to bear up under unjust suffering because of our trust in God. It is not worthy if we suffer for doing wrong. The experience of suffering unjustly is a part of our calling in Christ, for He suffered on our behalf even though He committed no sin.

Jesus did not retaliate or threaten those who afflicted Him. Instead He entrusted Himself to His Father. As a result, we are set free from our sins.

Application

Jesus bore our sins on His body when He hung on the cross. He died to set us free from sin and death.

Everyone who receives this gift and dies to their sins can now be raised to new life in Him.

Sin had a hold on us in every way. We could not escape it on our own. But when we died to ourselves and received new life in Christ, then we were dead to sin and alive to righteousness. We were born again to a new life in the grace of Christ.

Part of the benefit of being born again in Christ is that we can know healing from sickness. Sickness is a part of the old covenant of sin and death. Now that we live in Christ we are healed by His wounds.

In this life healing is only partial, in the same way that our freedom from sin is not yet complete. And so we pray and sometimes people are healed and other times they are not.

The healing that we do receive points us to the future when sickness and death will be no more.

Prayer

Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for me. Than you for taking my sin and my death on your body and promising eternal life with you. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1.17-25

Scripture

You have been born anew, not of perishable but imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

Observation

If we call God “Father” we should live in reverent fear. We were ransomed from the ways of our ancestors through the precious blood of Christ. He was destined to die before the foundation of the earth and is now revealed at the end of the age.

We have been born again with an imperishable seed through the living and enduring word of God- the good news that was announced to us.

Application

Our first birth was in the flesh or from a perishable seed. Tainted by the spirit of death that now pervades the cosmos, we too were destined for death.

The sin of Adam, passed through the generations, put us on the road of death. Our own sins cemented us on the road.

Then came Jesus, the perfect sacrifice. He took away the power of sin and death. We were born again to a living hope through the imperishable seed of Christ’s death.

“Born again” does not just mean a new start or a second chance,although it does include that. It really means an entirely new nature. The Holy Spirit brings spiritual life, living water that washes away the power of sin in our lives.

Because I am born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, I have a new connection with God through the Holy Spirit in me. I can talk to Him any time without going through priests or cleansing sacrifices and rituals.

The vehicle for this process is the living and enduring word of God. This takes four different but related forms.

1. The written word of God is inspired or God-breathed, and so it always caries the life of the Holy Spirit.

2. The announced word of God (v. 25). When the message is preached or proclaimed it again carries the life of the Holy Spirit,

3. The Word of God is of course Jesus Christ Himself (see John 1). He embodies the message of Scripture, the word become flesh. Every word of Scripture is ultimately about Him.

4. Revelations from the Holy Spirit- words of knowledge and wisdom, prophecy etc. This is a lesser form of the word because it is so easily corrupted by our sinful nature. It must always be corroborated by the written word or the Living Word. It should not be dismissed because God still speaks to His people today.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, the Living Word, may I hear your word in its various forms and respond always to your love and your will for me. Amen.

Scripture

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he has been raised to life in the Spirit.

Observation

Christ was sinless, but He died to bring us sinners to God.

In His time of death, Jesus preached to the imprisoned spirits, rebels from before the time of Noah. Just as Noah and his family alone were saved by God from the judgement, now God saves us through the waters of baptism.

Application

Jesus saves us and His power to save is limitless.

He saves us from God’s judgement on sin because His blood washes away our sin.

He saves us from evil spirits because He is stronger than any of them.

He saves us from death because He rose from the grave and now sits in the place of authority in heaven.

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for your power to save us from judgement, death and evil. I receive your grace now. Amen.

Scripture

Discipline yourselves and keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour.

Observation

Peter exhorts elders to tend their flocks willingly. They must be examples for the flock. This way when Christ returns they will win a crown of glory.

We must humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, casting all our cares and anxieties on Him.

The devil prowls around looking to devour us, but if we stay alert and resist him, God will restore, support, strengthen and establish us.

Application

It is essential to discern the habits and methods of the devil. We must not become either complacent or obsessed. We must be vigilant, however, or satan will pull us down.

Peter tells us to watch, be disciplined and resist. These activities are essential if we are to overcome the evil one.

To be disciplined means that we focus on doing the right things even when we may prefer not to- things like prayer, Bible reading and worship.

To resist means that we stand up to temptation when it comes, instead of buckling at the first opportunity.

As we learn to focus on God’s will for our lives instead of following the path of least resistance, we will find that God strengthens us and establishes us in Him.

Prayer

Father please show me how to live a life that is pleasing to you and grant me the strength to resist temptation. Amen.

Scripture

But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth where righteousness is at home.

Observation

The earth will pass away on the day of the Lord, so we need to live lives of holiness and godliness. While we actively await these things, we strive to be at peace and without spot or blemish.

Paul has written about these things also, but some twist his teachings for their own aims and to their own destruction. We need to ensure that we are not ensnared by those who are lawless. Instead, we must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.

Application

The knowledge that Jesus is coming back should turn us outward not inward. Some people pore over Scriptures trying foolishly to determine the date and manner of His return.

Rather than this striving for intellectual knowledge we should be aiming for holiness. To be ready for His coming, we need to be without spot or blemish in our character and daily life.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I know you will return and the heavens and the earth will be re-created. Please help me to be ready for that wonderful day. Amen.

Scripture

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

Observation

We are to get rid of all sinful behaviour. Instead, we are to crave the pure spiritual milk that will grow us into maturity.

We are living stones in the Temple of which Christ is the cornerstone. Those who trust Him recognise the honour that God has given Him, but those who reject Him stumble because they refuse to obey God’s word.

But we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

Application

We have been saved from sin- not just its consequences but its reality. That means that sin no longer has power to hold us captive.

We are always subject to temptation in this life, and at times we will fall. But this is not an excuse to hold on to the ways of sin. As holy people we must learn to live holy lives- lives dedicated to a holy God.

This is impossible in our own strength. As we surrender to the Holy Spirit, He will change our sinful ways to holy ways.

Prayer

Lord, today I cry out to you for that pure spiritual milk. Feed me on what is holy. Transform me into that pure person you designed me to be, totally submitted to you. Amen.

Scripture

For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last for ever because it comes from the eternal living word of God.

Observation

Our heavenly Father will judge us by our deeds because He paid a precious ransom to save us from our empty life. The ransom was not mere silver or gold but the precious blood of Christ. We have come to trust in Christ through faith because of the resurrection.

We were cleansed from our sins and must now show love for one another. We have been born again to eternal life.

Application

God’s salvation is awesome in its scope, but we find it so easy to take for granted.

Peter reminds us that we were born again for eternity. Death no longer has a hold over us. We will live for ever.

Our salvation was bought at a tremendous price. The blood of the spotless Lamb of God was poured out to set us free from sin.

If we are to honour God’s grace in saving us, we will want to live out a different life- a life marked by holiness and love.

Prayer

Lord Jesus you are the spotless Lamb of God and you purchased my salvation. Thank you for setting me free from the works of sin. Let me honour you with every word and deed. Amen.

Scripture

The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

Observation
God knew us and chose us from long ago, and His Spirit makes us holy. For this reason we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
It is by the mercy of God that we have been born again. Now we have an inheritance kept for us in heaven where nothing can spoil it. Meanwhile God is protecting us until that last day when all will see the mystery of salvation.
We must rejoice, despite any trials that we go through. Trials strengthen our faith. If we keep trusting in Jesus we truly will be saved.

Application
It is an awesome thought that God chose us before we were born. He is the one who brings us to the place of salvation.
Because my salvation is in His hands, it does not depend on me or even on my faith. God will protect me and give me the faith to overcome, if I trust Him for that,
The key is to always look to Jesus in good times and in trials. If we do that, He will bring us safely through.

Prayer
Thank you Lord Jesus for your salvation. Thank you for the assurance that nothing can separate me from your love. Amen.