Louise Gevers

“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.”  1 Peter 2:2-3

Whichever country you come from, it is likely to have a traditional food associated with it. People find it delightful to sample exotic flavours from time to time, and even look forward to visiting certain countries to enjoy an authentic experience of the food. The interesting thing is, though, that around the world, all newborn babies start life on the same food – milk – and nobody would consider giving them a slice of pizza, a koeksister, or a plate of curry and rice!

The reason for this is simple: in order to grow and thrive it is essential to have what you need at your stage of life. Although a newborn has no teeth and its gastric system is immature, it knows it’s hungry and needs lots of food, which mother’s milk miraculously provides.

There is something miraculous about babies from the very beginning: conception is a miracle, the infant’s development in its mother’s womb from a minute cell; the amazing moment of birth when it takes its first breath, then cries heartily and is put to its mother’s breast. There is much that this little being does instinctively that enables it to stay alive and thrive, much to the great relief of the inexperienced parents! The baby will wake at regular intervals and cry for food, and will not sleep again until it has been satisfied; and on mother’s milk alone you will see it grow before your eyes.

Thus Peter uses this analogy to encourage his readers to grow. They have experienced firsthand the goodness of the Lord and the miracle of new birth. He now wants to ensure that they have the right principles in place in order to grow deeper in their experience, flourish in their faith and achieve salvation. “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18) So he wants them to crave - long for – the right food at the right times, like Mother’s milk which has the healthiest ingredients and is always the right temperature. Just like a baby they need to be fed regularly – once a week would be disastrous as it would starve to death!

“Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” (Isaiah 55:2b)

Why crave what is not suitable and will not satisfy, but will slowly weaken and starve you?

Prayer: Father, thank You for the perfect food of Your Word with which you nourish us. Help me to discern and discontinue those things in my life that replace it and which slowly erode away my spirit. Amen.