1 Peter 2

Living Stones and a Holy Nation

1 Drop all the malice, deceit, jealousy, and trash talk.

2 Be like newborn babies, craving pure spiritual milk so you can grow in your salvation.

3 If you have tasted that God is good, you know what is up.

4 Come to Jesus, the living stone rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to Him.

5 You all are living stones too, being built into a spiritual house. You are a holy priesthood offering sacrifices that please God through Jesus.

6 Scripture says, “I am laying a cornerstone in Zion, chosen and precious. Whoever trusts in Him will not trip.”

7 For believers, this stone is priceless. But for non-believers, it is the stone the builders rejected that became the cornerstone.

8 It is also a stone that makes people stumble. They trip because they disobey God’s Word.

9 But you all are chosen, royal priests, a holy nation, and God’s special people. You are here to declare His praises.

10 Once, you were not a people, but now you are. Once, you did not have mercy, but now you do.

11 Dear fam, you are strangers in this world. Do not let sinful desires mess you up, they are at war with your soul.

12 Live good lives among non-believers. Even if they hate on you, your good deeds might lead them to glorify God.

13 Submit to every authority, for the Lord’s sake, whether it is the king or governors.

14 God put them there to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do right.

15 Living good shuts down ignorant haters.

16 You are free, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for doing wrong. Serve God.

17 Respect everyone. Love your fellow believers. Fear God. Honor the king.

18 If you are under someone’s authority, respect them, even if they are unfair.

19 God sees when you endure suffering because of Him. That is commendable.

20 If you suffer for doing wrong, that is on you. But if you suffer for doing good, God has got you.

21 Jesus suffered for you, leaving you an example to follow.

22 He did not sin or talk trash when insulted.

23 When He was mistreated, He did not clap back. He trusted God to handle justice.

24 He took our sins on the cross so we would die to sin and live for righteousness. By His wounds, we are healed.

25 You were like lost sheep, but now you are back with the Shepherd.