Be Holy In All You Do

This devotion is written by Ruth Anne Reese and is entitled “God’s New Family and the Gift of Salvation.” This article can be found in Ruth Anne Resse’ book, “The Letter of 1 Peter.”

Key Observation. If you want to grow up, then crave the pure milk that comes from God.

Understanding the Word. This week we will complete the second major section of 1 Peter. First, we looked at the introduction (vv. 1–2). Then, we looked at the foundation for our identity as the people of God (vv. 3–12). In our current section (1:13–2:10), we are looking at instructions that flow out of our identity as God’s people. This week focuses a little more on our identity as God’s family and introduces the idea that we are God’s temple.

At the end of last week, we saw that God gives us the gift of new life. In 1 Peter, the whole Trinity is involved in the work of purifying believers. The Spirit sets us apart and makes us holy (1:2), the blood of Jesus cleanses us (1:3, 18), and the Father gives us new birth (1:3). At the same time, we are invited to participate in becoming holy (1:15–16, 22). Out of this gift of new life comes a life of continuous love for fellow believers (1:22–23).

Chapter 2 continues this theme by showing how the church can love one another. We are to put off activities that destroy love. This includes all malice (evil intentions). When we have hearts that are shaped by God’s holiness and by love for one another, we do not wish evil toward others. We are not to deceive one another. This includes outright lies as well as misdirection. It also includes other kinds of speech that manipulate others into believing untruths. We should not be hypocrites. We all long for authentic relationships, but we cannot have real relationships with those who are play-acting or pretending. Honesty and integrity are part of loving behavior. We are to put aside envy. This is the desire to have what belongs to others. Envy is not confined to posses- sions. We might also envy even the spiritual gifts of others. It is important to know that whatever you have—possessions, gifts, or anything else—comes from God and is given to you as God’s beloved child. There is no need to look with envy at anyone else.

Rather than envying others, God wants us to crave his milk. This milk is pure. It hasn’t been watered down. Instead, it is exactly what you need to live the spiritual life that you have been called to. Longing for and drinking deeply from the milk of God produces growth. Just as newborn babies are desperate to drink their mother’s milk, we should have the same deep longing for the things of God. When babies drink milk, they grow and mature. The same thing happens to us when we drink the spiritual nourishment that God gives. We grow into salvation. In 1 Peter, salvation is a process that begins at conversion and is completed when Jesus returns. During our lifetime, we are growing in our experience of God’s deliverance, healing, and new life. We can describe this experience as tasting that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).

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