Wisdom for relationships in difficult times

In this passage we find God’s wisdom for people in difficult times … the horizontal aspect of relationships for those who have come to faith in Jesus Christ. The apostle John has previously recorded Jesus words which speak to his disciples, ‘love one another as I have loved you’. The apostle Peter in this letter defines ‘obedience’ in terms of ‘love’. He uses two different words which mean ‘brotherly love’ and ‘sacrificial love’. The latter is what Jesus showed at the cross.

Those who Peter was writing to are told that they can demonstrate this second, higher, love because they have been born again. They have come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Peter spells it out by mentioning the following sins to avoid: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. He uses a quote from the prophet Isaiah to show that their old life is not like their new one.

Peter tells them further about how they can rid themselves of sin. They are to be like ‘newborn babes’ hungering for the pure milk of the word. Learning more and more form Scripture is very important for their spiritual growth. The ‘food’ for their souls obtained by reading God’s word (Scripture) is for their maturing. Spiritual appetite comes from tasting that ‘the Lord is good’.