praying effectively: Mature in Christ (1Peter 2:1-10)

(1 Peter 2:1-10)  Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the very corner stone,”

8 and,

“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we put aside all malice (2:1)

- that we put aside all deceit (2:1)

- that we put aside all hypocrisy (2:1)

- that we put aside all slander (2:1)

- that we put aside all envy (2:1)

- that we will not be disappointed in Christ (2:6)

- that we long for God's words (2:2)

- that we mature in our salvation (2:2)

- that we offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (2:4-5)

- that we proclaim the excellencies of Christ who saved us (2:9)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for salvation!  Thank You that You do not disappoint!  Help us to avoid sin, and guide us as we mature in our salvation, desiring always to please You.  Thank You that You work in our hearts and minds, to shape and mold us into what we ought to be.

May we be available to Your calling, sacrificially giving of our spiritual gifts, our resources, our time and our energy.  May everything we do and say proclaim Your excellencies.  All to Your glory, amen.