What Stands In The Way of Doing the Work of Christ?

1 Peter 2:1

Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.

Chapter the Second of Peter’s first letter carries on from before.  How shall we then prepare when we have received the gift of God to do the work Jesus has led us to do?  Lists are always fascinating in the bible.  Are they simply catalogues or is there a thread that carries along between them, tying them together? 

These are the things that must be gotten rid of in order to do the work of Jesus.

Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice,-- Malice, an attitude that is defiant of God’s love for us, and for the love we are expected to show.

and all guile,--Trickery, perhaps that is a better term for this.  Why do we do what we do?

insincerity,--In whose service are we playing at being the Christian?

envy,--How would this get in the way of Jesus’ work?

and all slander.—Rather than telling the truth, making something up about someone else?

Why did Peter pick these ones in particular, at this moment in his letter?  Goes back to consideration of who is reading his letter, I believe.