We read 1 Peter 2 in the Bible Reading Plan for today. Verse 2 says this:
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: KJV
I could take you for a word by word study of this verse, but the Amplified Bible does a great job of that for this verse:
2 Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation, AMP
We know that milk is the very first food that a newborn baby eats in order to grow and continue to mature to a point of eating solid food. It takes time and the vital nourishment that this milk provides. Have you ever heard a hungry newborn cry? They want to eat, and they want it NOW! When was the last time that YOU had such a hungry craving for the Living Word of God? We CANNOT grow without the Word! When we do grow, we will begin to require solid food from the Word of God in order to continue to grow and mature. 1 Peter 2:1 tells us what we have to put aside in order to hunger for the Word:
1 SO BE done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind. AMP
Not only will these things keep us from desiring the Word, they can also keep us from growing beyond the milk of the Word to the real meat! 1 Corinthians 3:2-3 tells us this:
2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough [to be ready for it]; but even yet you are not strong enough [to be ready for it], 3 For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men? AMP
Do you REALLY desire to grow up in the things of God? Then put aside selfish desires and fleshly emotions and concentrate on the One Who loves us so very much! Begin again to desire to KNOW Him more! We do NOT want to be as those to whom Paul was speaking in Hebrews 5:12-14:
12 For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God's Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food. 13 For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]! 14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law. AMP
You and I have the precious and priceless privilege and the awesome responsibility to grow up and become mature ministers of the Gospel, minsters of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18)! Let's set everything aside and really run this race to WIN (1 Corinthians 9:24)! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Running":
Shalom in Him!
