Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Peter 2:1 (New International Version)

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind

Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander – these are bad things. I don’t want these things in my life. Is Peter telling us, “Stop this or you will go to hell.” I don’t think so.

This is one of those “Therefore” statements. It asks me to look at the previous thoughts as the “Therefore” refers back to something. So, going back a few verses:

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth…

Peter is writing to those who have obeyed the truth. These people are already saved; they live in Christ. Why would anyone living in Christ want to wish bad things on other people, lie, show duplicity, envy, and slander? Those things are miserable. Why do I want to be miserable?

This is another example in scripture of what I call “You can do these things if you want, but they will only make you miserable.” As a Christian, I can do these things and I don’t think they will erase salvation, but why do them? They won’t get me ahead in this life. Yuck. Who wants this?

God, help me to keep myself from inflicting misery and pain upon myself.