Seven Critical Challenges for Living in This World (A Study of I Peter 2): Good Riddance!

Some of you are aware that I’ve been engaged in a daily Bible reading program with my friend Frank in New Jersey for a couple of years or so. We choose a book of the Bible and read the same chapter each day for a week — then move on to the next chapter after that. Our procedure is quite simple and is explained here.

Well, I’ve started a small group of four men who are doing this kind of daily Bible reading and we’ve worked our way through Philippians and I Timothy, and are now going through I Peter. We drop each other a short email on Sunday about something we’ve learned in our reading together.

In reading through I Peter 2, I believe there are seven critical challenges that Peter gives us that are particularly relevant for us right now in our world. Here’s the first —

Of course, a proper understanding of this verse should take us back to I Peter 1 and all that the Apostle says there. His use of “therefore” builds on such powerful truths as: we have been born again (v. 3), we have an inheritance waiting for us (v. 4), we have a faith of greater worth than gold (v. 7), we possess an inexpressible and glorious joy in knowing Christ (v. 8), we have every reason to pursue holiness (vv. 13-16), we are to purify ourselves by obeying the truth (v. 22), etc.

In light of all that, we are to do some house-cleaning! We are to “rid ourselves” of certain specific sins: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Got any of those? No? Then I guess this first challenge doesn’t relate to you.

Today’s Challenge: Take a cold, hard look at yourself this morning and ask, “Where do I find evidence of these five filthy sins in my life?” Follow with a second question: “How do I get rid of them?”