What is “pure” in this world?  Ways of living are corrupted in various ways, there is constant friction as everyone wants to do “what is right in their own eyes” as the very last words in the Book of Judges tells us of that era.  In reaction to this our opening quotation from the writings of Peter are very appropriate – as an essential counter-weight – to tip the scales in our minds towards God.

The break between chapters 1 and 2 in Peter’s 1^st Epistle is unfortunate; start reading from v.24 in ch. 1 and see what a meaningful (and blunt) message Peter is making. “ ‘All flesh is like grass … the grass withers … but the word of the Lord remains forever.’   And this word is the good news that was preached to you, so put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation” [-to 2 v.2]

In those days, far more than today, newborn babes had to be fed on their mother’s milk if they were to survive in a meaningful way – remember how Moses, the babe in the bulrushes survived? (Exodus 2 v.2-9)

We take in Peter’s point “the word of the Lord remains forever” – but that word is being watered right down today – often only little bits are being quoted so they can support humanistic reasoning.

We need the purity of God’s word more than ever if we are to “grow up to salvation.”  Just 2 weeks ago in Hebrews we read that “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword … discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” [4 v.12]   Humanly speaking – it is ‘dangerous’ to read God’s word carefully!

But Peter links the word with Jesus who was “the word made flesh.”  He says “you come to him as a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious”