If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good

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

Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. – 1 Corinthians 14:20

For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. – Mark 15:10-11

But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him. – Mark 12:15-17

Peter exhorts us to live in the purity we have been called to. To put away malice, evil intent towards others, which Paul tells us to be babes in, to be innocent of. To put away deceit, misrepresenting the truth, and hypocrisy, being two faced. To put away envy, the deep emotional response to wanting other people’s possessions or qualities. Mark wrote that Jesus was sent to Pilot by the Chief Priests because they were envious of Him, they wanted the power, the crowds admiration, the acceptance before God Jesus had and the wisdom that the Son of God had but instead of humbling themselves before a loving God, submitting to His will they allowed murder in their hearts just as Cain did. They lied about the Son of God slandering the perfectly righteousness lamb of God and sent Him to His death. O what damage giving in to human emotions does and not humbling ourselves before the Living God. Peter encourages us to long for the spiritual milk, the sustaining nourishment of the word is God so that we will grow up in the grace and knowledge of our Saviour. Thank God we have tasted that the Lord is Good.

If you want to know more about how to enter a relationship with God, how to be forgiven of your sins and how to become a Christian please take a look at the Gospel section above or get in touch with me through the contact me page.