Word for the Day July 4

By: Evang. Cascille Hammack

"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 2:1,2

As children of God, born again by His spirit, we crave the His word and are eager to obey it. Hebrews 3:13 says, "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." A lack of hunger and thirst for His word signifies a great danger of dying spiritually. Many times people will upset your spirit but you must rid yourself of it and not allow a root of bitterness to grow that will defile many including yourself. When Peter rebukes Simon who practiced sorcery and thought he could buy the gift of God in Acts 8:22,23, he says, "Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." Peter could see the grievous state of Simon's spirit but could not take it as an offense personally. He simply gave him the truth and left him in the hands of God. Often it is those to whom God has sent you to help that hurt you. If you have received the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is grieved, it grieves you. But you must keep in mind, when God sends you, it is between you and God. He can send you to a snake like group of people who really don't want to receive Him or you, but when He sends you, you have to go. It is the Lord who will have His way. You must live to please God not man. Man has but a breath in his nostrils. 1 Peter 2:1,2 tells us to rid yourself of all of these things, so that the work of the Lord may go forth in your life for His glory. Then he tells us to crave the pure milk of His word. That is where your focus must be. John the Baptist who Jesus said there is no greater born among women than he, had his head cut off by wicked people. His reward is great and eternal. You can love people when they are not lovable because it is between you and God. When He sends you, you must go. You can not do this with sin in your heart. God uses pure vessels that hunger and thirst for His Word out of a pure heart.