1 Peter 2:2-3 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.

The word picture here is so clear, and so gentle and winsome! We know that Peter was married, but we have no record of any children. This passage makes me think he probably had some, because it is so beautifully natural. When we, as spiritual babies, desire the Word of God the way an infant desires his mother’s milk, then we will indeed grow, and grow well. Many have had the experience, when first saved and even more often, when first filled with the Holy Spirit, of being almost unable to put the Bible down. That’s wonderful! Sadly, we let other things crowd in, and our fervor for taking in the Word dies down. Peter here points out that we have indeed tasted that the Lord is good. Babies won’t keep drinking something that doesn’t taste good, but that’s certainly not the problem here. The problem is that we start to think (with the encouragement of the enemy) that we are “beyond” that, that we don’t need it any more. Nothing could be further from the truth! Sometimes, when the Word contradicts what our flesh wants to do, we decide that it “doesn’t taste good,” but that’s not through any fault in the Word! We’ve all seen pictures of malnourished children, with their swollen bellies, spindly limbs, and unnatural coloration. Spiritually malnourished people are no better off, but it’s not so obvious to the natural eye. In some churches, you would think that’s the “in” look! Anyone who does not and will not take in and feast on the Word is courting spiritual death.

It is very significant that Peter is the writer here, because Jesus famously told him to “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17) I’m sure he had learned, by the time he wrote this letter, that that’s not always easy. As a pastor myself, I know that you can put the food out there, but you can’t force people to take it in. Perhaps my biggest task, and challenge, in “equipping the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephe­sians 4:12) is getting people into the habit of feeding on the Word regularly, daily. I know that it took me many years before I really settled down into a fairly unbreakable habit of daily devotions, so I should have empathy with others on this issue. However, empathy doesn’t mean leaving them alone! I need to encourage them, as Peter did here, to dig into the Word and discover its treasures, feasting on it, not just on Sundays but every day, so that they may grow as God intends, for their blessing and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do pray for each of the sheep in my flock, that they would recognize their spiritual hunger for what it is and turn to the only thing that can satisfy it, not just in occasional feasts but daily, so that they may have the strength they need to face each challenge and grow by it, rather than be defeated in any way. May we all grow up into Christ Jesus our Head, (Ephesians 4:15) for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!