Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
Today we finish what we started yesterday; the first verse of the second chapter. What are we dealing with here? What is Peter asking us to do? What are malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander? Is there something that they all have in common?
Malice is the desire to do evil. Okay. We can probably agree that we should avoid that. We can also agree that malice is ungodly.
How about deceit? To lie or misrepresent the truth? Hmm… who does that remind me of? Jesus describes Satan this way in John 8: 44, “When he lies, he [the devil] speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Okay, so that is ungodly, too.
Hypocrisy. What is so bad about that? A person does one thing and says another … wait a minute. That is a lot like deceit, isn’t it?
And what about envy? Isn’t envy all about being discontented with what God has provided? I remember some stories about the Israelites in Exodus where being discontented didn’t go so well for them. Grumbling about God is probably another aspect of being ungodly.
I guess that leaves slander. “Slander” is a fancy legal term for telling a lie about someone.
What prompts these ungodly desires in us? Have we been hurt by someone? Do we resent someone else for who they are? Do we have a desire to be “in charge?” (One of my granddaughters, about age three at the time, told my wife, “Grandma, I wish I was your mommy.” When my wife asked, “Why, Honey?” the answer was simple: “Because then I could tell you want to do!”)
I have a theory… (are you ready? 🙂 )
If we keep our eyes on God, there isn’t any room for any of these things. The same goes for loving our neighbor as ourselves. If we hang on to these things that Peter wants us to get rid of, we are saying that we value our sense of justice more than God’s.
Application: Do what Peter says. Get rid of all that ungodly stuff.
Food for Thought: Since we live in a sinful world and so much of this seems “normal,” how do we recognize what we need to get rid of?
Last paragraph edited for clarity. – JE 200708 09:20
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Stay close to God. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as we study His word, gather with His people in worship and activities.
In time we begin to experience the Glory of our Lord, the peace of being in His presence and the reality, insanity and chaos of this world loses its attraction and becomes repulsive.
Thank you, Ron!
Isn’t it amazing how God’s Spirit awakens us to the difference between what is right and what is wrong?
Good devotion Jeff. Good comments Ron. I agree. If we fill ourselves with the Spirit then we will not fill ourselves with the world. Ephesians 5: 17 – 18. God’s word tells us what to get rid of and the Holy Spirit empowers us to do so.
Thank you, Rich! Great verse! “Be filled with the Spirit…” Amen!
Things to get rid of are things that dont bring glory to his name.
Amen Tim. Good truth. I am thankful for your comments on this blog.
👍🏻