I Peter 2:1-25
2:1 Here is what we need to remove from our lives, whether it comes from ourselves or from the people we are allowing in our lives:
- Malice: keep your intentions pure, selfless and kind.
- Hypocrisy: ensure that what you think, say and do are authentic and consistently united.
- Envy: find gratitude for what is in your life, for your opportunity to improve and change your life, and for others' well-being... it should bring you joy to see others happy and thriving.
- Evil Speaking: ensure that only positive energy, expression and wishes come from you and into the earth. Do not waste precious time demeaning or gossiping; not only is is unproductive, it is also regressive to your growth and health.
2:2-3 Continue always to develop your faith, allowing your spirituality to contemplate and understand more complex and dynamic ideas about life. The metaphor here is that when we mature, we are able to digest more complicated forms of nourishment. If you believe this philosophy has merit, allow it to continue to instruct and establish you. Graduate, level up from elementary concepts... ever increasing your capacities for patience, generosity, acceptance and wisdom.
2:4 Some of the world sneers and mistrusts this faithful lifestyle of living, believing that kindness is a kind of weakness. However, if you have come to understand that the only true and lasting strength is the power and impact of compassion, allow your faith to be your stone. Your immovable foundation.
2:5 If you have come to understand that the only true and lasting strength is the power and impact of compassion, you yourself become a stone: bold, firm, immovable. You become a spiritual house, a power house building of the bricks which endure forever. You become a most productive, most influential child of God on earth.
2:6 We are directed to Isaiah 28:16 where it is declared that the manifestation of this philosophy on earth is the cornerstone. The cornerstone, the essential piece which holds the rest together. And indeed we are held together by this faith comprised of love, truth and wisdom. It is promised that members of this faith "will by no means be put to shame" our work here too important to fail or even suffer.
2:7 We are directed to Psalm 118:22 where Jesus (compassion and spirit manifested) is declared the immovable cornerstone which indeed was (and is) rejected by some people. It takes a gentle heart and a contemplative mind to understand that kindness is strength.
2:8 Isaiah 8:14 where we learn that those who oppose compassion continually stumble and offend. Remember that punishments on earth are not administered by God. Instead, each human is allowed to experience the repercussions of their actions. Those who oppose compassionate acts stumble because unkindness is in ineffective method of living, causing enemies and strife in its wake.
2:9-10 Despite our fallibility (humanity collectively), we were invited back into our spiritual family and home. We were invited to grow and develop ourselves in patience and kindness. We are chosen in that we are given purpose and our potential is celebrated and cultivated.
2:11 Peter wholeheartedly implores us, as sojourners* here on earth, to edify ourselves: not only for others' benefits but for our own. Our lives here are more rewarding, more satisfying and more navigable when we are patient, generous, courageous and kind.
*Sojourners: we are all travelers here. Our bodies house our souls, which have traveled almost inconceivable distances (from spirit to earth). This is our temporary home. Our classroom for a time. It is imperative to remember that this is not the first or last stop.
2:12 Have honorable conduct. If your conduct at all times is honorable and sincere, nobody can speak against you (even if they want to, they will not have any credible material with which to do so). Your honorable conduct is an influence in the world... observed by friends and foe alike, never causing harm.
2:13-14 This verse begins a series of advice: cooperate within all good systems. These several verses in particular encourage us to be cooperative within our social systems. Meaning that we should work to create and ensure our freedom and human rights. Our systems of government should uphold their responsibility of admonishing evil acts and encouraging good acts.
2:15 Our governments should reflect our individual quest for and construction of justice... deflecting and discouraging evil in every implemented law. We are meant to participate in such systems in effort to create a natural order of justice.
2:16 Our governments have the responsibility of ensuring our freedom: our freedom to think and express and create and believe within the reasonable confines of the law (we must not think, express, create or believe in things which diminish or abolish the rights and freedom of others).
Remembering always that our blessed servitude is to compassion (Creation manifested), and compassion only. The only entity with the right to grasp our lives in its hands is our God (for He created and loves each them).
2:17 Ultimately, honor all people. Love this philosophy and its members. Revere God. Honor the social systems under which we currently live during this sojourn. Honor them by demanding them to meet their responsibilities, by functioning as a kind and productive citizen.
2:18 Cooperate within your work field. Never stoop to the low levels of the unjust and unkind. Peter encourages us to retain our honorable character under all conditions.
2:19 Through your faith, you will always endure. Kindness is never thwarted or diminished. Peter ensures us that with God, we always triumph and those who oppress us lose their power to do so through our continued faith and stoic character.
2:20 Peter wants us to understand that patience is more than remaining calm and honorable in moments where we are guilty... patience is remaining calm and honorable when are innocent yet wrongly accused.
2:21-22 As members of this philosophy, we are representations of the element of this faith. Our journey is not necessarily to become faultless for that is unrealistic, but to become blameless. Blameless in that everything we do, even when it results in a mistake, was done out of good intentions.
2:23 We are encouraged to follow our spiritual example of faith, patience, honor and stoicism: Jesus (whether you believe in the man or the fable) taught us to endure. To consistently rise above desperate and unjust situations. He exemplified to us strength in faith and character.
Understand that the strength of your faith is all of the impassioned fight inside of you that need. You do not have to sling mug (figuratively... or literally) because the wisdom and power of your faith is going to guide you, rescue you, defend you and comfort you.
2:24 Jesus was accused even unto death and though He was innocent, He understand that His most effective method against his oppressors was to remain honorable... for children of God never die. They only rise. Constantly, even after life on earth. He devoted His life to providing that truth to you.
Understand that the strength of your faith is all of the impassioned fight inside of you that need. You do not have to sling mug (figuratively... or literally) because the wisdom and power of your faith is going to guide you, rescue you, defend you and comfort you.
2:24 Jesus was accused even unto death and though He was innocent, He understand that His most effective method against his oppressors was to remain honorable... for children of God never die. They only rise. Constantly, even after life on earth. He devoted His life to providing that truth to you.
2:25 We have a Shepherd, not only protecting our souls but also leading us home and to spiritual nourishment. A human with a strong soul will endure all and any tribulation.
