Cast Off and Crave

 "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

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

In light of all that Peter has just said about the imperishable and eternal Word of God, I am to therefore cast off, put aside, and get rid of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Each of those words is worthy of study and inspection, but the one I'll focus on now is "slander." The Greek word is katalalia and it means "defamation, back-biting, evil speaking." Unfortunately in the church, this evil habit is all too common. We pick up an offense, harbor a grievance, and then form an alliance with others by speaking negatively against someone behind their back. Even speaking true but damaging information can be considered katalalia if it's done with the intention to harm.

Lord, as I cast off these forms of damaging communication, I am to become like a newborn baby intensely craving Your communication to me as if it were pure spiritual milk. Earnestly desiring Your Word and receiving it enables me to grow up into my salvation. Otherwise I may increase in my years as a Christian, but remain spiritually immature. This intense craving comes when I taste and see that the Lord is good. The picture that comes to mind is of someone offering a taste of their ice cream to one who has never tried that flavor. Once they taste it, their eyes light up, a smile comes across their face, and they want more!

Lord Jesus, today I choose to cast off all the evil speaking I may be tempted toward, especially in response to my pain and brokenness. Instead, I choose to crave once again the simple truth of Your Gospel so that I may grow up. For I have tasted and seen that You, O Lord, are so very good!

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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