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.

This chapter is so rich, I was once again at a loss as to what part to write on. However, appreciation of all the other good stuff of life in Christ starts right here, with receiving the Word of God as our spiritual nourishment. The first thing a newborn infant needs to learn is how to latch onto a nipple, how to drink so as to receive the nourishment they need. It seems odd, but some infants really do have trouble learning this, and it’s a major issue. Also, the mother’s breast doesn’t produce milk at first, but a liquid called colostrum, which is even easier for the infant to absorb. However, that very quickly changes to the milk that we usually think of. Of course, Peter isn’t writing a treatise on breastfeeding, but rather on spiritual growth. This is actually a very good figure of speech for him to use, because new believers are very much on the level of infants, at first only able to absorb “colostrum” levels of truth. Likewise, some believers don’t seem to know how to “latch,” to focus on what God is saying to them so as to take it in and apply it. That causes as much trouble spiritually as the physical issue does for an infant, which is to say, leading even to death. Of course, we aren’t to be satisfied indefinitely with spiritual milk. Hebrews 5:12-14 deals with that issue. However, we’ve got to start somewhere! An infant will choke on solid food, so they’ve got to get plenty of milk to grow to the level of being able to handle more and more solid food. This calls for discernment in those who are in leadership, to know what to feed to whom, when. The Holy Spirit is the only reliable guide, but fortunately, He’s very dependable! He can and does illuminate the messages He inspires, enabling one hearer to get one thing out of it and another, something quite different. That said, those delivering the messages need to be humbly open to being used, because human motivation and intellect aren’t going to produce God’s results.

This couldn’t be any more applicable to me than it is! I have spent many years in the ministry of the Word, and God has delivered everything from colostrum to steak through me. At the same time, I’ve got to be taking all of that in and applying it myself, or I become a completely empty windbag. I haven’t always been wise in what I’ve fed to whom. The tenderest wagyu isn’t appropriate for someone who has no teeth! I continue to hang up on that from time to time, and it keeps me from being a very effective evangelist. Fried chicken isn’t appropriate for someone who can only absorb colostrum! I need to recognize and encourage those who are gifted at giving “spiritual colostrum,” so that everyone may have the opportunity to grow into the child of God that He designed them to be.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for how You’re continuing to grow me in feeding Your children. May I be the “chef” You want me to be, so that the Body of Christ may grow as You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!