Taste and See

Peter continues the Lord’s instruction to the discouraged Christians.  Since they have experienced God’s grace, been born again and have been commanded to love the church with expressions of love - there are specific actions required to maintain love for each other.

1 Peter 2:1-3

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. ² Like newborn 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. Clean House

“Putting away”.  As it relates to attitudes, it literally means to get rid of and continue doing so.  

Why must we put away these attitudes? Each attitude undermines the very character of God and His church. If they exist to any degree, we cannot love each other as previously commanded.  

Malice: deep seated feelings against a person, bitterness toward another, holding a grudge.

First, there is no additional guidance given. So, malice cannot be justified in our lives.  Regardless of what has happened in the past that causes your bitterness or grudge – you must stop it!  

Second, if your heart is harboring bitterness toward another, who is in control of your heart?  More importantly, who IS NOT in control?

Deceit: In 1 Peter 1:22, we are to have sincere brotherly love. If we deceive others, we have chipped away at the foundation of trust required for sincere love. (Romans 16:18, Ephesians 5:6, Revelation 12:9) 

What is deceit? Using words to get what you want. This comes in the form of flattery, false promises, suggestive talk, enticing words and lying.  If you are using words to manipulate people to fulfill your desires, you are deceitful.

Hypocrisy: A hypocrite is one who pretends to be something he is not.  We are hypocrites when…

we act like we love God, but do not live like God tells us.

When we profess to believe God’s word, but do not search it for ourselves.

When we act friendly, but really don’t care.

When we pretend to follow God, but live how we want.

You and I cannot love genuinely when we are not genuine.

Envy: desiring what someone else has.

Yes, this is applicable to money and possessions, but it goes deeper. 

A beautiful singing voice. Someone’s looks, personality or reputation. Someone’s relationship or freedom from a relationship. Someone's education, career or promotion.

If you are dissatisfied with what you have, you are envious of what someone else has. This creates a barrier to genuinely love others.

Slander: evil speech.  This includes being critical, judgmental, back biting, gossiping, or condemning toward others.  It is talking ill about someone else when they are not in your presence.  

In God’s eyes, those who slander are just as guilty as the one who committed a failure (and is the subject of conversation). There is never a spirit of humility when speaking ill of another person.  (If you are listening to someone talk ill about another, you are a participant as well.)

That is what we must get rid of, but what must we do?

2. Clean Heart

We must long for pure spiritual milk.  

How vital is milk to an infant?  It is imperative for survival and growth.  This is not a declaration that the Christians of that day were a bunch of spiritual babies.  Rather, it describes the continuing deep desire we must have for God’s Word.

What is the purpose of this command?  That we may grow unto salvation, maturing in our faith.  We must realize that it is not the occasional gathering together, or doing ministry that causes us to grow – 

it is our obedience to God’s word that brings about spiritual growth.  

Until we have this deep desire to study and do God’s Word, we will not get rid of the attitudes that prevent us from loving one another.  

…Which prevents us from being the church.  

…Which limits God’s work in and around our lives.

3. Clean Home

 Peter is not telling the discouraged Christians to question their faith, he is encouraging them to remember God’s graciousness!  

If we will meditate on the goodness of God as described in His Word and have experienced in our salvation – we will desire to know Him more.  

When we know Him more, we will be compelled to become more like Him.  

When we become more like Him, we will take off the attitudes and behaviors that are unlike Him.

If you do not desire Him have you genuinely experienced Him?  

For you, acknowledge your need for a Savior, cry out to God, turn from your ways, and lay down the rights to your life.

If you have experienced Him, what other desire consumes your heart and mind?  For you, let it go and turn away! And keep doing so…

There is no room for these attitudes in His church.  

For the sake of our Lord Jesus, will you forgive those who have hurt you?

Will you use your breath to encourage and build up the church?

Will you return to your first love?

Will you, once again, taste and see that the Lord is Good?