"Like newborn infants, desire (long for, crave) the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good and gracious." (1 Peter 2: 2-3)
Peggy and I have been blessed in recent weeks with the addition of two grandsons to our family. They are precious. There are a couple things that are characteristic of all infants. One is that they eat, and well, you know the other. When they are hungry, they let you know. There is a longing for mother's milk, and the ongoing result of good, consistent feeding is nourishment and growth.
These verses from 1 Peter draw a parallel with this, not that we're a bunch of babies, but instead focus on the desire, the longing for - craving - hunger that we can have for the pure milk of the Word of God. This "pure milk" of the Word speaks to me about the Bible, not books about the Bible, not commentaries, not devotional thoughts of others - but the pure milk of the Word of God - The Book!
Verse 3 tells us that this "longing for" comes to us by experience, by knowing God and by "tasting that the Lord is good and gracious."
My favorite meal at the local Garibaldi's restaurant is jambalaya. I tried it once a while ago and have developed a taste for it, and I have discovered, it is GOOD. I have tasted the grace and love and presence and fellowship with God, and HE is GOOD!
"Taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed is the one who takes shelter in him!" (Psalm 34:8)
Invite Jesus to be more and more present in your daily life, read and re-read the Gospels and get to know all you can about Him, ask Him to develop in you a hunger, a longing, a craving for Him and the Word of God. And feed and drink deeply, consistently, and the verse promises that you will grow thereby!
• Louie Locke is the pastor of Fountainhead Foursquare Church 3690 Highway 395, Carson City, www.ffcwired.org
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