Like Newborn Babes
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Like Newborn Babes
The first instinct of newborns is to get some milk. Whether it is a human baby or any other mammal, they have an instinctual longing for the milk that will nourish and sustain them. It is only natural that they have a great desire to suckle.
Peter wants us to be just like newborn babes. We have been born into the family of God. If we are to sustain our life as a child of God, we’ve got to get some pure nourishment every day. In 1 Peter 2:1-3, he says to every Christian,
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
Just before saying this, Peter reminded the Christians that our lives are very short. Like grass, we are here today and gone tomorrow. But, even though our lives are short, the word of God is forever and ever.
Because our lives are short and the word of God is eternal, we must wise up before it’s too late for us. We’ve got to knock off all malice within us. Malice is the desire to hurt others and do mischief. We’ve also got to put aside all guile. That is our tendency to do things on the sly — to be deceitful and tricky.
We’ve got to stop being hypocrites — pretending to be something we are not. We need to quit being envious of others and slandering. None of this kind of evil is to be a part of our lives any more.
Instead, we need to be like newborn babes, longing “for the pure milk of the word“. We are to want to hear and learn more and more of God’s word. We need to instinctively realize that our life depends on knowing God’s word. If God’s word does not become a part of our lives, we will surely be starving and may even die spiritually.
Peter says God’s word will help us to “grow in respect to salvation“. Learning God’s word will make us spiritually strong, so that when temptations come — and they surely come every day — we will have the strength and common sense to not cave in to those temptations. We will actually be able to realize what is wrong and what is right.
The people of the world often refuse to admit what is right and what is wrong. That’s why it doesn’t bother them to lie, cheat, slander, commit adultery, have abortions, etc. They let the thinking of others and their sinful desires convince them that these evil behaviors are okay because “everybody’s doing it”. In fact, it is these very kinds of behaviors that will condemn us forever.
Those behaviors are killing us —- not nourishing and strengthening us.
So, we really need to “grow in respect to salvation”. It’s vital that we become strong by feeding on “the pure milk of the word”. As a child of God, we should be longing to snuggle up close to our Savior in this way and feed on His word. We need to realize our weaknesses and turn to God’s word for help.
Then Peter adds the big “IF”. All this we will long to do “if” we “have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” If we have learned just enough of God’s word so that we can see how wonderful God’s love and kindness is, then we will want to stay close to God and learn more. We will want to get stronger and stronger in God’s way of being.
When a rancher or farmer has a weak newborn lamb or calf that does not seem to have a desire to suckle, he will bottle feed that newborn. Getting that first taste of deliciously warm milk (actually colostrum), usually springs that newborn into action, and it begins to suckle voraciously — like there’s no end to its desire.
That’s what Peter wants us to do. Take that first taste of the love of God in His word. See what God has done for us in Christ. Taste what real love is all about. Then we will surely want more as we let God’s word make us strong and vigorous in our faith and in our living.
As we keep growing stronger in God’s word, we will say, “Hallelujah! Jesus’ love leads me in His Way, His Truth, and His Life to all eternity.”
Love,
Margaret
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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and GOD of gods.
Pray for our country.
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The LORD made this day, let us rejoice and be glad in Him.
Psalm 118:24
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The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30
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Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33:1
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How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4
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Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13
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O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1
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Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3
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Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
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