“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.â€
I Peter 2:2,3
To say that newborn babies crave milk is almost an understatement. They crave milk almost constantly and aren’t shy to let you know it. It’s something those of us who are moms likely know well and store away in our memory banks of reasons why we’ve been up at 3:00am. Your baby could be hungry, tired, sad, lonely, anxious, bored . . . all of these feelings point them toward one thing, milk. When it’s time to nurse, newborn babies are excited. Each time cuddling up to mom is met with eager anticipation. They are ready to be held. They are ready to feast. They have tasted mama’s milk before and know what they’re getting – the only food they need, delicious, stomach-filling, and comforting. And after they are done eating, they relish in their fullness, entering the “milk coma†of satisfied, at-peace delight. God designs that milk to be not only tasty, but exactly what newborns need to grow and thrive.
God tells us through Peter’s hand that he has designed his Word to be that satisfying spiritual milk for us. Peter’s words above, written to those who were new Christians, apply beautifully to all of us – whether the Holy Spirit worked faith in our hearts as adults, as babies, or sometime in between. Now that we have tasted in our lives how good the Lord is, we should crave his Word as a newborn baby craves her mother’s milk. Knowing we will find God’s comfort and peace in those familiar words, we should eagerly grab our Bibles and settle down to spend time with the Lord. We know it will satisfy us.
I’ve never seen a newborn baby push away her mother’s breast because she is tired of the same old milk and would rather have dad’s coffee or a sibling’s apple juice. Yet, sometimes, based on my responses to what life brings my way, you wouldn’t think I trust that God’s Word is the place I will find satisfaction. When struggles come, I start by searching Google instead of Philippians. When there are decisions to be made, I start weighing the pros and cons before looking to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount for guidance. When a joyful surprise or happy resolution to a problem comes along, I often forget to let my thanks overflow to God like the Psalms, instead offering up one “thank you†and carrying on. Sometimes my daily devotion time becomes a task on my to-do list rather than indispensable time to spend with the Lord, letting his Word feed my faith and fuel my day.
Sisters, maybe you already have hearts that constantly crave God’s Word – if so, give thanks. If not, let’s pray for hearts that never tire of seeking God’s Word when times are good, when times are bad, and everything in between. We can feast on it daily with the excitement of knowing that the Lord gives us his Word to nourish our faith and to build us up. His word is the “one thing needed†(Luke 10:42) just like milk to a newborn. Our time spent close to our Father is time well spent – time to be drawn close, to be fed, and to be filled. And he promises that it will satisfy us every time. Now that we have tasted that the Lord is good, may God daily instill in us more than just a healthy appetite for his Word, but a craving for it.
Ask the Lord
Dear Lord, grow within me a heart that craves time spent in your Word. By your Holy Spirit, cultivate within me a faith that treasures your Word and feasts on it daily. When I stray from your Word, remind me of the joy, peace, comfort, and nourishment that only you can provide. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
