as newborn babies, desire the reasonable, sincere milk of the word, that you may grow in it,
Truth to Learn
The moment we became a Christian we started craving spiritual food.
Behind the Words
“Newborn” is translated from the Greek word artigennētos, which is made up of arti, meaning “just now” or “just recently” and gennētos, meaning “to be born.” Hence it means “just born” or “new born.”
The word “babies” is from brephos, meaning “an infant.”
The word translated “desire” is epipotheo, which doesn’t simply mean to desire but “to earnestly desire” or “to crave” something.
The word translated “sincere” is the Greek word adolon, which literally means “not deceitful.” Notice the play on words since the things we are commanded to lay aside are all deceitful types of things but the nourishment of the Word is just the opposite.
Meaning Explained
As with most cases in the Bible, when we are commanded to remove or lay aside something we are also told to put on, or start doing, something else. In the previous verse Peter told us to lay aside a number of unholy actions, each of which is associated with self-will. In exchange for laying aside such things we are to crave the sincere milk of the word like newborn babies.
One of the characteristics of a little baby is that he or she is always hungry. Likewise young Christians should always be craving the nourishment of the Word of God. Personally, I question the salvation of any Christian who isn’t hungry for the Word.
Now, let me carry this one step further. Unfortunately, today there are many Christians who, though they have been saved for many years, are still drinking from a bottle when it comes to feeding on the Word of God. The writer of Hebrews put it this way:
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14)
The only way we will continue to grow as Christians is to have consistent time in the Word and to expose ourselves to preaching and teaching that will provide us spiritual meat.
Application
Is it your constant desire to become more Christ-like? Do you have a craving to learn more about the truths of God’s Word? Are you getting that spiritual meat?
If you did not answer a resounding “Yes!” to all of these questions, perhaps a time of prayerful discussion with your heavenly Father is in order!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved