1 Peter 2:1-5
Therefore rid yourselves of all evil, all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all slander. Like newborn babies, crave the pure milk of the word so that by it, you may grow up with the result being salvation. Certainly, you have tasted that the Lord is good! As you come to him, the Living Stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious, you also, like living stones, are being built as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, in order to bring spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Dear Heavenly Father,
You chose your Son to be our Savior, and while many reject him and your love, that does not make him less of our Redeemer. Peter was speaking to believers when he told them to get rid of all the evil in them; it is not easy to do because we all constantly battle our sins.
So, how do we overcome our cravings for our sinful desires? By craving and feeding our souls with your Word. In your Word, we hear of your love, mercy, and forgiveness and how Christ has taken away our sins through repentance and forgiveness that he won for us on the cross.
While the world may reject Jesus, their rejection does not lessen the fact he gave his life on the cross to suffer the punishment for everyone’s sins. He endured the pains of hell so that whoever believes in him will never have to suffer being eternally separated from you. Faith in Jesus delivers forgiveness and salvation to all who believe in him. Faith causes us to realize our sins and the condemnation that should come with them, and then confidently know and trust that Jesus has removed all those sins and restores all believers to you.
Faith makes each person a part of your house; each believer is a precious stone and building block for your temple. So, we ask that you open the hearts of those around us to crave the milk of your word. Let us share the good news of salvation with them so they will believe and become a part of your spiritual house of believers. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
You are precious in God’s eyes; he sent his Son to redeem you from all your sins so that through faith in Jesus, salvation is delivered to you, and you become a part of God’s heavenly home.