1 Peter 2:1-2
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
At times you will hear a parent say to their child, “Stop being a baby.” In other words, they are tired of the child acting like a little baby who doesn’t know better. That is what God is saying to the Christian when He says, “Wherefore laying aside all…” God knows that a Christian cannot grow when they are acting like a baby. Until the Christian grows up, they will never be able to be fed and led by God into the will He has for their lives. God shows us five things that resemble baby Christians.
First, baby Christians desire to get even. Malice is nothing more than the desire to get even. Mature Christians have learned to forgive and move on, but baby Christians are continually trying to get even with a person or groups of people whom they perceive did them wrong. One thing you will find out about getting even is that if you do succeed at getting even, you still lose because it doesn’t help you but it hurts you. Stop trying to get even with everyone and instead forgive.
Second, baby Christians read into everything. Guile is an act of always having ulterior motives. Baby Christians hurt themselves because they always believe someone has an ulterior motive. Let me encourage you to stop reading into everything someone does. There needs to come a time in your life when you need to start believing in people and stop trying to read into what someone is really doing. This is a terrible way to live your life.
Third, baby Christians live double lives. God commands us to lay aside “hypocrisies.” There is no place for the double life in the Christian life. You must grow to the point that you are the same all the time. When you stop living a double life, you will find out that you will stop reading into everyone’s motives. Grow up and live the Christian life all the time.
Fourth, baby Christians get distracted by what others have. Being envious of others possessions is nothing more than covetousness and jealousy. Friend, be content with what God has given you and realize you have what you need for this time in your life. When God blesses others, it should excite you. When you become envious of others, it distracts you from what you are supposed to be doing for God.
Fifth, baby Christians talk about people. You will notice that God says to lay aside “all evil speakings.” You may enjoy hearing about the sin and trash in others lives, but it does nothing to help your Christian life and critical spirit. Stop talking about people and talk about Christ. Don’t be desirous of learning the latest gossip. Keep your spirit right by protecting yourself from those who talk about others.
God’s desire is that you get a craving for His Word. It is only through the Word of God that you will grow as a Christian. Stop being a baby Christian and lay aside these five areas. When you start studying the Word of God and taking what you’ve learned to help others, you will find these five things will easily be laid aside.
Allen Domelle is the editor of the Old Paths Journal which is more than just a Christian’s publication. It is an excellent place to learn how today’s headlines will forge tomorrow’s laws and statutes. Keep yourself in tune with what is happening around the world, as well as in your own backyard with our daily updates and devotionals.