You know those tiny spoons at an ice cream shop?
Those are the best.
You can sample any flavor.
It really gets your mouth watering.
But, it's just a tiny taste, meant to be a start.
I've never seen anyone stop with the tiny spoon.
1 Peter 2:3
now that you have had a taste of the LORD's kindness.
Peter talks about a taste.
now that means he is giving us instruction,
an action to take.
And in the previous verses, he has also explained the taste -
Salvation.
He has been describing the LORD's kindness as the gift of salvation.
Born again
New life
Good News
Our salvation begins with our decision to choose Jesus,
but that choice, that decision, that free gift
is only a taste.
It's only the beginning.
Receiving salvation is not the end-goal.
It's a brand new beginning.
Just like a baby has so much more ahead -
We begin a new life in Christ.
And it's only a tiny spoon, considering all God has to offer.
Jesus has brought a daily provision;
the Bread of Life;
Manna from Heaven.
We are not grasping to a small hope that speaks of Heaven for later -
that's only part of it -
Jesus has brought Life for today.
Peter says now that
Let's read the whole section:
1 Peter 2:1-3
So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing. You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that you have had a taste of the LORD's kindness.
get rid of
crave
grow
cry out
Are you craving more?
Craving leads to the growing
You crave the spiritual milk
and therefore grow.
What makes you crave?
What makes you feel the urge for more-
that insatiable thirst?
Look at verse 1
get rid of . . .
Get rid of the junk.
Kids will ask for candy right before a meal,
but a parent knows that will take away the hunger.
They will miss the nutrition.
The junk is stunting our spiritual growth.
Our actions.
Our priorities.
Seek first the Kingdom. . . - Matthew 6:33
It takes daily alignment.
We are called to love and act in love.
Selfishness and pride rise up in all of us.
It's not easy.
We will naturally seek "candy" and want other things.
The junk will come easily, and it will always be paraded in front of you.
Your own feelings will even distract you and lie to you.
As verse 1 describes, your actions and responses to life
will reveal what's inside.
But, if we get rid of it -
make changes,
choose obedience,
change our priorities
choose to love -
We will find the True Source.
We will remember that we have been made new
and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
We will come to Christ.
Verse 4
Come to Christ, who is the Living Cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by the people, but He is precious to God who chose Him.
Christ is the salvation for eternity, and He is also everything for now.
The Cornerstone.
He is home base.
Our foundation.
Your hunger will be satisfied in Him.
Verse 5
And now . . .
The beautiful joining;
the building.
Christ's work is not lonely;
It is not solo.
He is building and loving you individually,
but also collectively.
This is where the miracle is truly revealed-
In the Love that is built and shared.
And now God is building you, as living stones, into His spiritual temple. What's more, you are God's holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please Him because of Jesus Christ.
Living stones.
Joining and working together
as a temple.
Also in verse 5
His Church -
So thankful
for the Bread of Life that satisfies their hunger
and holds them firmly together
So thankful
that they offer spiritual sacrifices to Him.
Thanksgiving arises as an overflow-
a response-
to the gift of Love,
the kindness of the LORD,
the salvation that grows into fullness.
Lord, teach us to want more than just a taste.
Lord, teach us to CRAVE.
Psalm 34:8-10
Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him!
Let the LORD's people show Him reverence,
for those who honor Him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the LORD will never lack any good thing.
Commenti