The birth of a new baby is almost always a time of great rejoicing. First Peter 2:2-3 reads, "Grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." These verses emphasize our need to grow to maturity and deepen our spiritual roots. It's sad when people have been Christians for years but there has been very little spiritual growth in their lives.
When I was little, all I ate was basically bacon at home, and French fries and milkshakes from McD's (pretty bad!), but one time my family was in Florida on vacation at a nice restaurant, and my dad let me try his peppercorn-coated filet minion. My eyes lit up. I said to him, "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"
There might be more to the Christian life than what some of you are experiencing. For some, they are satisfied with having been saved, but salvation is much more than a fire insurance policy for eternity. It isn't just about getting into heaven; it's about getting heaven into you here. It's about looking more like Jesus as the years pass. It is moving from milk to bacon to filet minion. Simon Peter challenges us to taste the meaty truths of God's Word and see that He is good in the first few verses of 1 Peter. Let's see three areas where we need to grow deeper in the Christian life as you are in college so you can experience the abundant life God wants to give.
First, we are to deepen mentally by "preparing our minds for action." First Peter 1:13 reads, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." God has given us more than emotions. He also has given us the capacity to reason, to think. Sometimes this is challenged to great degrees during the college years. We are told repeatedly in Scripture that wisdom (the ability to apply knowledge to everyday life) and discernment (the ability to determine right and wrong) are among the highest virtues.
Second, we are to deepen morally, by becoming like God in His holiness. First Peter 1:15-16 reads, "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'" We speak of the Holy Bible or Holy Land. The word holy means "distinctive, pure, sacred, belonging to God." We usually think of holiness negatively, in terms of what we don't do. A holy person doesn't get drunk, doesn't do drugs, doesn't use profanity, doesn't commit adultery, doesn't smoke, doesn't lie, doesn't cheat. It is in part this, but much more. Holiness is becoming like God, who generous, impartial, faithful, merciful, loving, humble, pure and so much more.
True holiness is powerfully attractive, but it is not expressed to it's fullest in the world. Holiness is a moral courage and sacrificial love and sheer joy that make people sit up and say, "Wow! So that's what being a follower of Christ can look like!" It's being like Jesus whose goodness drew people to Himself like a magnet.
Third, we are to mature socially by loving one another deeply. First Peter 1:22 says, "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." One of the most difficult lessons for children to learn is to be unselfish. Little children think the world revolves around them. They have to be taught to go counter to their nature and share. The same is true spiritually. One of the most difficult lessons of the Christian life is to put others ahead of self.
Simon Peter is our example of someone who "tasted the Lord is good" and continued to grow in holiness. Let's go and do the same.
