1 Peter 2

1-3 So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You've had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God.

The Stone

4-8 Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. The Scriptures provide precedent:
Look! I'm setting a stone in Zion, a cornerstone in the place of honor. Whoever trusts in this stone as a foundation will never have cause to regret it. To you who trust him, he's a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse to trust him,
The stone the workmen threw out is now the chief foundation stone. For the untrusting it's .. . a stone to trip over, a boulder blocking the way. They trip and fall because they refuse to obey, just as predicted.

9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

11-12 Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.

13-17 Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.

The Kind of Life He Lived

18-20 You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God's sake when you're treated badly for no good reason. There's no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you're treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.

21-25 This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.
He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.

1 Peter 2

1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,2 as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;3 if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious:4 unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious,5 ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6 Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.

7 For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;

8 and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.9 But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:10 who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.11 Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;12 having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.13 Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;14 or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.15 For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.19 For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.20 For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.21 For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:24 who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.25 For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.