1 Peter 2:1 says, Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,  This is what God expects from His followers.  We are to lay aside many of the attitudes that exist in too many people.  We are not to look at others thinking of how we can use them to benefit ourselves or envying what they have.  Also, we are not to speak badly about them.  If we profess to follow God and do these things, we are but a hypocrite.  Verse two adds, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:  When we become a follower of Christ, or are born again, we are like a newborn baby that needs milk to grow, and our milk is the word of God.  We need to feed on it daily as we grow in our relationship with God.  Verse three continues, If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  I believe that this means that we will do these things if we have accepted the grace of God shown to us through our accepting His gift of salvation.  Until we do this, none of this will be possible.  Verse four declares, To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,  This refers to the coming of Christ as the Savior of the world.  He was rejected by mankind, but He is chosen by God as the precious cornerstone of salvation.  Verse five adds, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  We are to be as spiritual stones ourselves, a holy house and a holy priesthood, or one set aside for God.  This is the only way that we can offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God.  We must do so through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse six continues, Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  The coming of Christ was not a sudden new idea for salvation, but was predicted throughout the scriptures.  God knew what was going to be necessary for the redemption of mankind even before Creation.  This does not mean that God created us to fail, but that when He gave us free will, He knew we could fail and would need a Redeemer to restore us to Him.  Verse seven says, Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  it is the choice of each individual how Christ is viewed.  To those who believe in Him, He is the precious cornerstone of our faith.  Even though Jesus was rejected by almost everyone when He came to earth and by most since, He is still the only cornerstone on which faith can be based.  Verse eight adds, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.  Many people stumble over the fact that Christ is the only way to salvation.  Many people today proclaim that Jesus is but one way to salvation, if He is a way at all.  Others claim that being born again is not a requirement for salvation, but we must declare that being born again through faith in Christ is the only way to salvation.  Otherwise, Christ becomes a stumbling block.  Verse nine continues, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  We do not need a priest because as followers of Christ we are priests.  Because as Christians we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people, we are to praise God for His marvelous Light, which is Jesus Christ.  Verse ten states, Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.  Though this does apply to the Jews, I believe that it applies to the Gentiles as well, who until the coming of Christ were not considered a part of God's people.  Of course, it really applies to anyone who accepts God's mercy that Christ brings to anyone who accepts Him.  Verse eleven adds, Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;  Peter begs that those who are strangers to the God to accept Christ and become pilgrims in life and abstain from the lusts of the flesh.  This is still very good advice to anyone today who is seeking to please God and follow His path.  Verse twelve continues, Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.  Though this was spoken to the Jews, I believe that we can say that it applies to Christians today.  We are to speak to and about the lost in a way that brings honor to God.  I don't believe that speaking to or about the lost with anger or disgust will ever bring honor to God.  We are to reach out with God's love and mercy, because we are but sinners saved by grace.

1 Peter 1:13 says,  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  We are to wrap our minds in the hope of the grace of Jesus Christ, Who will be with us forever.  Our thoughts are to always be directed by the Holy Spirit.  Verse fourteen states, As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  Our thoughts, directed by the Holy Spirit, are to lead us to be obedient children of God.  We are to no longer be led by the lusts of our ignorance as we were before we became followers of Christ.  Verse fifteen adds, But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Holy does not mean self righteous or sanctimonious, but set apart from the world under the guidance of God.  We are to honor God in all that we say and do.  Verse sixteen concludes, Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  We can never be holy by our own strength and understanding, but can only be so by the grace and power of God.  We never have a reason to boast of our own goodness, but only of the goodness of God.  Verse seventeen proclaims, And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons  according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:  When we call on the heavenly Father, if we have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, He will hear us no matter who we are in the eyes of the world.  Of course, God will hear anyone who calls to Him by faith for salvation through Christ.  God does not forgive some and not others.  This should give us an awesome respect for God.  Verse eighteen states, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  Salvation is not made available by the things we consider valuable in the world, such as silver and gold.  We cannot buy salvation with corruptable things, but can only claim it as a free gift from God.  Verse nineteen adds, But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  The only way to salvation is through the blood of Christ, the sacrifice without blemish.  This does not say that faith in Christ is a way to salvation, but that it is the only way to salvation.  Verse twenty continues, Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,  Christ was the only way to salvation even before Creation.  He was not an afterthought.  Because God gives people free will He always knew that they could rebel against Him.  Still, God loves us enough to make a way of salvation available, even at a great cost to Himself.  Verse twenty-one concludes, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.  We must put our faith in Christ, believing that He died for our sins.  We must give Christ the glory, so that our faith and hope will be in God.  Verse twenty-two states, Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:  When we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, our souls are purified.  Then, we are to have a love for our fellow believers that is real and not faked.  We are too truly have their best interests at heart.  Verse twenty-three declares, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  This is not an option.  If we are to be saved, we must be born again by faith in Christ.  To say we are Christians but not born again makes a liar either of God or of us.  Verse twenty-four proclaims, For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  Our physical bodies are as temporary as the grass or the flowers.  Verse twenty-five concludes, But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.  Only the word of God lasts forever, and it is by the word of God that the gospel is preached to us.  We can add nothing to the gospel, nor can we take anything away from it.  We can simply accept it by faith, or reject it altogether.

1 Peter 1:1 says, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,  First, Peter identifies himself as an apostle of Christ, then he identifies those he is writing to.  We should always identify ourselves as Christians, or followers of Christ.  We should also know who we are talking to, whether they are fellow believers or not.  We do not have to share the gospel with someone who already accepts it,but we can still share the results of living by faith.  Of course, we need to share the gospel with the lost.  Verse two states, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.  This pretty much lays out the gospel.  God knew before creation that there would need to be a way to salvation, and He sanctifies it through the work of the Holy Spirit once we accept the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  Verse three proclaims, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  We, like Peter, should praise God for His abundant mercy for allowing us to be born again through our faith in Christ.  We should have a lively hope.  We do not have to question our everlasting relationship with God once we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  Verse four adds,  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,  The promise of our everlasting relationship with God cannot be stated more clearly.  It is incorruptible, undefiled, and will never fade away.  Salvation is ours forever, and we will fully enjoy it in heaven.  Verse five concludes, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  The reason we can be certain of our everlasting salvation is because once we accept Christ as our Savior, then God Himself keeps us as His by His power.  We never can earn or keep salvation by our own power, but it is a free gift of God, secured by our faith in Him.  Verse six declares, Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  We are called on to rejoice in our salvation, even if we are suffering in this world.  Though we may have manifold temptations, we are to remain strong and rejoice in our faith.  Verse seven adds, That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  Though our faith may be tried by fire, if we remain true to God it will only be purified.  We are to remain true to our faith in Christ until we die or He returns.  Verse eight continues, Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  Though we, like those Peter was writing to, have not physically seen Jesus, we believe in Him as our Savior and Lord, if we have accepted Him by faith. Because of this, we should be filled with unspeakable joy.  Verse nine concludes, Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.  The end of faith in Christ will always be the salvation of our souls.  Anything beyond that is simply a bonus.  Verse ten says, Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  Salvation through Christ was not some new or secondary plan, but was in place from the time of creation.  The Old Testament prophets looked ahead to the coming of Christ.  They prophesied of the grace of God to come.  Verse eleven adds, Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  These prophets testified even before His coming about the suffering that Christ would endure.  Then verse twelve concludes, Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.  The Old Testament prophets never saw the fulfillment of their prophecies, but all those who have come after Christ have.  The Old Testament pointed to the coming of Christ, and the New Testament points to His accomplishing salvation for all who accept Him and to His return.  We, as followers of Christ, are to hold firm to our faith and rejoice in our salvation through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Also, in Proverbs, we learn to listen to and obey our parents.  I believe this refers to parents who follow the teachings of God, but to the best of our ability we are to always love our parents, even if they are basically unloving towards us.  We love and treat them with respect because of who we are, if we are followers of Christ.  Of course, if we aren't, then we are not going to be guided by God's teachings anyway.  Another thing that we learn is God expects us to be honest in our relationship to others, whether they are in a position over us or below us.  We can never justify cheating the rich because they have so much and we have so little.  Neither can we justify doing as little as possible for those that we work for, but as followers of Christ, we are to work in such a way as to bring honor and glory to Him.  Neither can we justify cheating those who are below us, the poor and those who may work for us, just because we are in a position of power over them.  The book of Proverbs also calls on us to be good citizens.  As long as the government, or those in power, does not come between God and us, we are to obey the law.  We cannot follow God and cheat on our taxes, for example.  We can never glorify God by choosing to ignore the law, unless it affects our ability to follow God's law.  We also learn that material things do not determine whether or not we are following God.  We are not promised material blessings simply because we are followers of Christ.  As a matter of fact, the opposite may be more true.  Nor are people necessarily followers of Christ simply because they are poor.  To be a follower of Christ, we cannot allow material things to control us.  We are also warned against being controlled by sexual desires or alcohol, which often occur together.  Finally, we are to be diligent in our relationship to God and at work to advance His kingdom.  These are but a few of the things we can learn from Proverbs.  Next, we will look at the book of 1 Peter.

What have we learned from Proverbs?  The first thing that we can say is that true knowledge and understanding come only from God.  No matter how intelligent or educated we may be, if we deny God and His laws we are but a fool, which we know God defines as anyone who denies Him.  We will never find wisdom through gaining the material things of this world, and gaining them will not prove that we are wise.  Solomon, one of the richest and wisest men in the eyes of the world at that time attempted to find the meaning of life through every pleasure imaginable and declared them to all be vanities, or nothing.  He concluded that only knowledge of and obedience to God mattered, and so must we if we are to become God's children.  Though this may be stated more clearly in the book of Ecclesiastes, it is still expressed in Proverbs.  We next learned that God expects us to help the poor.  This is repeated so many times that we cannot see it as an optional thing.  Just as God has mercy on the poor, so must we.  I don't believe that God ever expects His people to live in luxury and ignore the poor.  If we acknowledge that everything we have belongs to God, then we have to acknowledge that the way we use what we have should be directed by God.  We cannot just look down on the poor with disdain, but must look at them with compassion guided by God's love.  Also, we learn that we are not to hate anyone, even those that may hate or wish to harm us.  Just as God loved us even when we hated or attempted to deny Him, we are to share with everyone the love of God.  If we hate them, we will be unwilling to do this.  We also learn that God expects those who are His followers to be productive and not to just sit idly by while someone else provides for their needs.  We should know that God always has a purpose for those who follow Him, no matter how rich or poor we may be and we should be busy accomplishing that purpose.

Proverbs 31:10 says, Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.  I believe that this is more a rhetorical question.  This implication is not that a virtuous woman cannot be found, but who would know enough to look for one.  Such a woman is of more value than any precious stone.  Verse eleven states, The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.  This is a very simple statement.  Her husband can trust her without worry.  Verse twelve adds, She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.  A virtuous woman will do what is good for her husband as long as she lives.  She will not suddenly be looking around for someone who might be better, nor will she do anything just to hurt her husband.  Verse thirteen states, She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.  We don't have a lot of weaving going on today, but we can say that the virtuous woman insures that her family is well clothed to the best of her ability.  Verse fourteen says, She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.  The virtuous woman will do what she must to see that her family is fed well.  Verse fifteen adds, She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.  She is not only concerned with her family, but with those who work for her as well.  Verse sixteen states, She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.  She is capable of conducting business wisely in addition to taking care of her family and home.  (I don't believe that this means that she must do everything, but that she can do so and does so willingly.)  Verse seventeen proclaims, She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.  I believe this means that she not only takes care of others, but she takes care of herself as well.  Verse eighteen states, She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.  The virtuous woman knows when merchandise is good, and she doesn't allow darkness to rule her home.  Verse nineteen states, She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.  Once more, we don't make our own cloth as a general rule, but we can again say that she does what she needs to in order to ensure that her family is well clothed.  Verse twenty declares, She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.  The virtuous woman reaches out to the poor and needy out of compassion.  Verse twenty-one says, She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.  She doesn't worry about cold weather, because she has her family prepared for it.  Verse twenty-two states, She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.  I believe this would mean that she makes her house look as nice and be as comfortable as possible.  Verse twenty-three says, Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.  Her husband is known and looked up to by those he encounters.  Verse twenty-four says, She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.  I believe we can say that she engages in work that brings money into the home.  Again, I don't believe that this means that a virtuous woman must do everything, but instead that she willingly does everything she can to help her family.  Verse twenty-five declares, Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.  This doesn't say she will be clothed in riches, but in strength and honor.  I believe this is because the virtuous woman first does what God directs her to do.  Verse twenty-six says, She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  In order to speak with true wisdom, she must know God in a personal relationship, then He will lead her to show kindness to others.  Verse twenty-seven states, She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  She is diligent in caring for her family and home, and does not just sit idly by while things go undone.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Her family respects her.  I believe this is the highest accomplishment in this lifetime.  Verse twenty-nine declares, Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  I don't believe that this was speaking about any particular woman, but means any woman who lives a virtuous life.  Verse thirty declares, Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.  Beauty and worldly praise are fleeting at best, but being obedient to God brings everlasting rewards.  Verse thirty-one concludes, Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.  This is the most someone could ask for.

Proverbs 31:10 asks, Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.  I don't believe that this implies that there are few virtuous women, but is more a rhetorical question.  How many men look for a virtuous woman would be more the implication, or how many men finding one recognize her value.  We are to look beyond appearances and look to the character of a woman.  Verse eleven states, The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.  A husband can trust a wife who is virtuous.  He need never wonder if she is doing something that will harm their relationship.  Verse twelve proclaims, She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.  Her actions will not be just a one time or sometime thing, but will last a lifetime.  She will always do what is best for her husband and family.  Verse thirteen says, She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.  We may not have a lot of weaving going on today, but we can say that a virtuous wife will do all that is necessary to ensure that her family is clothed well.  Verse fourteen states, She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.  Just as she does whatever she needs to do to clothe her family, she does the same to see that they are fed properly, even if she has to go out of her way to do so.  Verse fifteen states, She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.  I realize that this is not what we often expect today, but a wife and mother should be willing to work long days to ensure that her family is properly cared for.  I believe that we should acknowledge that these are not things that a woman is required to do, but that these are things that a virtuous women will want to do.  (Of course, the husband and father should likewise put his wife and family above himself and do everything he can to help her and them.)  Verse sixteen says, She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.  We see that she is more than just a housewife.  She wisely considers, buys, and utilizes things that will help her family.  Though we are no longer an agricultural nation in America, the concept would apply to doing those things necessary to improve the family situation.  Verse seventeen proclaims, She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.  This tells us that a virtuous women is not concerned simply with looking good, but will do what she must to use her strength to help provide for her family.  Verse eighteen says, She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.  She will make sure that what she buys is good, and that she has enough of the necessities to last through the night.  Verse nineteen states, She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.  Again, we don't really spin cloth anymore, as a general rule, but I believe that we can say that she does what she must to keep the family clothed.  Verse twenty proclaims, She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.  A virtuous woman is not just concerned with her family, but has compassion on the poor and needy as well.  This does not say that she simply helps them if they come to her, but that she reaches out to them.  Verse twenty-one says, She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.  She isn't afraid of cold weather, because she has her family clothed and prepared for it.  Verse twenty-two states, She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.  Not only does the virtuous women provide for her family's needs, she provides for her own as well.  I don't believe that this means that she is vain about her looks, showing off, but that she simply wants to look her best.  Verse twenty-three states, Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.  Her husband is well thought of, and is looked up too.  He sits among the elders, or those who rule over the people.  Verse twenty-four says, She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.  Once more, this speaks of more than being just a wife and mother.  She helps provide for the family income.  I don't believe that this means that a wife and mother should do it all, but that she will willingly do everything she can to help her family.  Verse twenty-five declares, Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.  I believe that this implies that she is strong in her faith in God, and because of this she will be honored by God,, and hopefully by her family and friends.  Verse twenty-six says, She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  A virtuous woman speaks with wisdom and kindness.  This pretty much eliminates gossip and unkind words.  Verse twenty-seven adds, She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  I believe this has already been stated in all the things she is said to do.  There is no room for idleness.  Verse twenty-eight proclaims, Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  She is loved and cherished by her family, I believe not so much because of what she does, but because of her character.  Verse twenty-nine concludes, Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  I don't believe this was speaking of a particular woman, but of any woman who lives a virtuous life dedicated to God and her family.  Verse thirty says, Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.  If a woman lives just to please those around her and to look good while doing so, she will find these things to last but briefly.  True beauty comes from following God's will, and it is neither physical nor temporary.  Verse thirty-one proclaims, Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.  I guess in today's society we might say these traits are outdated, but when done under God's guidance, even if they must be updated to really have meaning today, they are still God's guiding principles.  When a woman lives by these guidelines, she is due praise.