“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:1-3.

According to Leo Tolstoy, A Russian writer who is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”

The question is it possible to change? Getting rid of certain characteristics like deception, hypocrisy, envy, and slander is not that easy for many people. However, the powerful route to get out of those and other bad characters is craving for the Word of God. The Bible or the Word of God is described as pure spiritual milk that facilitates spiritual growth.

Our passage indicates a change is possible and much more comfortable than you ever thought if you have already accepted Jesus Christ as your savior and Lord. Peter states the reason in the preceding verses. A person who accepted Jesus is already born again into God’s family. This re-birth did not happen by a perishable seed, but by the imperishable seed, by the living and eternal word of God. When the Word of God was preached, they welcomed and accepted it. The moment they opened the door of their heart for Jesus Christ, God gave them His Holy Spirit to indwell in them. Before this event, they had only one mechanism, which was flesh. Now they have divine help inside, the Holy Spirit of God. And the change is possible.

The indwelling Holy Spirit of God and His Word are the agents who make character change possible.

Our today’s Bible insight says, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

Did you notice there is a negative and positive command in our verse? Negatively, get rid of the old clothes of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Positively, like newborn babies, desire (crave) for pure spiritual milk. Newborn babies crave and cry for Mom’s milk. Like newborn babies, by your faith in Jesus, you are born again into God’s family. As a baby in God’s family, you need the spiritual milk to facilitate growth and maturity to know and understand everything God has in plan for you.

The last verse of the 1st chapter suggests what the author meant by spiritual milk is the Word of God, which is the Bible. It says, “the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.” The Word of God is pure and unadulterated. It will equip you. It will guide you. It will counsel you. It will empower you to live a Godly life in this world. The Word of God promises wonderful benefits for this life and for the life to come. The power of the Word of God that caused you to born again in to God’s household, the same makes possible your change and transformation. 

It says by believing in Jesus, you have already tasted that the Lord is good, don’t you? You understood Jesus died, buried, and rose again for you. He forgave all your sins. He reconciled you to God, the Father. You have tasted He is good. Now for progressive spiritual growth and taste and see that the Lord is good than you ever thought in million different ways, learn the Bible. The more you study the Bible, with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God inside you, you would get rid of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander, and many others. 

The divine change happens when you come to Jesus and accept Him as your savior and Lord. This is the beginning point of God’s beautiful blessings and guidance.

If you haven’t committed your life to Lord Jesus, would you pray with me now?

“Father in heaven, I know I am a sinner. I need your love, forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and kindness. I know you love me and gave your one and only Son to die in my place for my sins. Jesus died, buried, and rose again for me. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Please save me now. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”