The Puts and Practices of a Priestly People

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:1-5,9-12

A people not God’s become His, called into light and a royal name, standing, and inheritance. Chosen by Him, recipients of mercy and imparted holiness, the challenge is to mature as living stones in nature dark world. The priestly path in the battle of flesh requires put-aways and partaking that honor the Lord. The ugly stain of selfish mistreatment of others can be washed away by pure spiritual milk, and continual feeding on the Lord nurtures selflessness and surrender that honor Him.

To keep conduct honorable as the Lord’s representatives on earth is a constant challenge. What is true is not always easy or simple to live out in the frenetic pace and sinister passions of the culture. Ours is both a certain choosing and a constant calling to be holy. As living stones being built up, we must be vigilant about coming to Christ, tasting His goodness, offering ourselves in acceptable worship, and willfully abstaining from the allures of flesh. Keeping requires constant watching and tending. (Romans 12:1-3)

Once we were not, but now we are, and that should make a sobering difference in daily choices. What does being chosen as God’s possession and part of a holy nation inspire? Have we grown complacent in devotion or stagnant in spiritual growth? If so, would we ask Him for greater thirst for the pure spiritual nourishment of His word, and hone a hatred of sin that entangles, distracts, and chokes out the fruit of salvation? If we are not passionate about growing in holiness, it’s vital to uncover why and take His remedy. (Hebrews 12:1)

What do we need to name as sin and put away? Have we become so calcified in friendship with the world, ungodly attitudes, or isolation that we no longer recognize their affront to holy God? What will we do to reenter His light so He can expose those areas we hold off-limits, and give fresh vision of His excellencies? (1 John 2:15-16)

Lord, may I daily recite Your mercies and grow in holiness, and so live among others that they see Your virtues, to Your glory.