1 Peter 2:1–3
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that you may grow up into your salvation, if you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
I love this passage, but it challenges me every time I read it. I’ve been studying 1 and 2 Peter in preparation for teaching in Cambodia, and this one hit me hard today.
In these few verses, Peter reminds us that he same Word of God that gives new life also helps us grow and mature. Just like newborns need their mother’s milk to survive, Christians need the Father’s word to thrive. But before His word can nourish us, Peter says we must “rid ourselves” of things that poison our hearts… malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. Those sins choke out the love and unity and keep us from maturing in faith.
When Peter says, for us to be like infants in how they crave milk, he is not calling us immature; he is reminding us to stay hungry for the Word of God. Growth doesn’t just happen through time alone but through constant feeding from God’s truth. The Bible is not just information to know. It’s nourishment for the soul that keeps us spiritually strong.
Then Peter finishes this thought with a simple truth…”If you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Once you have experienced the goodness of Jesus, you should want more. When we clear out the junk and fill our hearts with His Word, we grow deeper in grace, stronger in faith, and closer to the One who makes us new.
The challenge is for us to be children of God, daily nourished by the Word of God.
Blessings,
Alex