The apostle Peter certainly knew what picture to grab onto when he wanted to urge believers to long for God’s Word. In 1 Peter 2:2, we read these familiar words: “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”
Read 1 Peter 2:1-3. Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
I love this imagery from 1 Peter because he is not talking about having an occasional snack on God’s Word. A baby pursues milk with a passion that will not rest until his hunger is satisfied. Three o’clock in the morning means nothing to a newborn. When a baby is ready to eat, the world stops.
What milk is to a baby’s body, the Word of God is to the soul. It is the food that fuels healthy spiritual growth—and just like your mother used to tell you, if you want to grow you need to eat.
The comparison to baby’s milk lets us know that it is the basics of the Christian faith.
Milk, in reference to the Scripture, is what has often been called the ABC’s of the faith. We all need to know these basic, foundational doctrines upon which our faith is built. Milk is crucial for a new Christian to feed on, but it is not the whole meal. There is much more; what the Bible calls “meat” or “solid food.”
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Reflect: In what ways is the Bible useful to Christians?
Read Hebrews 5:11-14. Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
According to Hebrews 5:14, we know we are mature enough to partake of solid food when we can take the truth of God’s Word (doctrine) and use it skillfully to live our lives and make our decisions from a biblical perspective. When you and I can filter everything that comes our way through the grid of God’s Word and discern His will and desire for us, and then obey what God tells us, we are evidencing a deeper, more mature hunger for the food of spiritual growth.
I am making the assumption that you want to move beyond the milk of the Christian life and enjoy the meat of God’s holy Word so that you will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Reflect: In your own words, explain what it means to hunger for God’s Word.
Reflect: How have you fed that hunger in your own life?
Reflect: In what ways can you begin to grow your personal hunger for more solid food? (See Hebrews 6:1-2.)
Consider this: Babies do not drink all the milk they can in two hours on Sunday so they can go the rest of the week without eating. Babies want to eat every few hours. Why?
For His Kingdom,
Tony Evans
Prayer: Lord, give me a personal hunger for Your Word. Help me to develop a regular feeding schedule for my spiritual growth so that I will continue to become more like Jesus in every area. In Christ's name, Amen.
