47. January 3.
Create in us clean hearts, O God,
and knit us together by thy holy love. Amen.
1 Peter 2, 1-6. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 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. 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.
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Peter writes to you who are born again of incorruptible seed by the living word of God. Hear and obey his admonition. What yet remains clinging to you of malice, hypocrisy, and the like, must be laid aside; herein you must employ all diligence and zeal. Else these faults will grow and kill the true life in you. But the strength necessary for your sanctification you receive of our Lord Jesus in and through the word of God. Therefore, as newborn babes hunger after the mother’s breast, and very frequently demand nourishment, even so shall you desire the pure word of God. For himself is in this word, and of his love he feeds you with it; and this is the only means by which the new man in you grows, so that you become stronger and more courageous in the fight against the evil one. Desire this sincere milk of the word, says the apostle; desire it, “if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” Here we learn that it is the Lord himself of whom we partake and whom we taste in the word. Should it not, then, be sweet to the taste, and must it not be strong meat? Let your soul absorb it, and when you read and hear it, then keep it; ponder it, take it into your heart, and make it a part of your life and your conversation; then there shall be no lack of sin or sorrow to make the gospel precious to you and enable you to taste that the Lord is gracious. But do not wait another day, nor even another hour; now, this very moment, the Lord is near. Drink of the fountain, and draw your weapon against all the viper brood of which any symptoms remain in you.
The apostle passes over to another figure of speech, which is taken from several passages of the Old Testament. He lived on the scriptures, he was nourished by the sincere milk of the word. Malice disunites the hearts, destroys the true fellowship, and causes death. The love from the heart of God in Christ is a living cement, which binds together the living stones on the everlasting, living foundation stone, the only begotten Son of God. He is the head stone of the corner, and he is the high priest; we are the walls of the building, and also the priests of the house. Hypocrites have no business in this house, and the offerings of unclean hearts are not permitted on its altars. Here must be living stones, an holy priesthood, and sacrifices acceptable to God.
Grant us thy grace, O God, through Jesus Christ. May we belong to the communion of the saints; and do thou sanctify us more and more each day, until we shall appear before thee without blemish, perfected in holiness. Amen.*
Correct, reprove, and comfort me;
As I have need, my Savior be;
And if I would from thee depart,
Then clasp me, Savior, to thy heart.
In fierce temptation’s darkest hour,
Save me from sin and Satan’s power;
Tear every idol from thy throne,
And reign, my Savior, reign alone.
[suggested tune: Rockingham Old, TLH 175b; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.