Without fail, whenever I asked one particular church member how he was doing, he would invariably respond: “Well, I’m still able to get up and take nourishment.” It was his way of saying, “Thankfully, I’m alive and I can continue to feed myself.”
Applied spiritually, how great is it to be born again and continue to “take in” the nourishment of the Word of God?! This is precisely what Peter is talking about in the second chapter of his first epistle.
Continuing our study of 1 Peter, we conclude today our exposition of verses 1-3 of the second chapter:
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Note the adjective there in verse 2, the word “pure.” It means unadulterated, uncontaminated, or no additives; just pure milk.
Christians are often lured away from the pure milk of the Word to drink something else; something that isn’t pure; something that contains additives.
In fact, it is unfortunate that even many evangelicals think we need to “add” to the Word something to make it more “attractive,” a means by which to “dress it up” in something more “appealing” to the lost and unchurched.
Doing so results in a contaminated Word, an adulterated Word, a Word containing harmful additives. Unfortunately, this “impure” Word is proclaimed from pulpits, shared in Bible studies, and found in popular books everywhere.
Peter says in verse 2, “Desire the pure milk of the Word that you may grow thereby.” There’s an implication here. And the implication is: If you don’t have the pure milk of the Word, you will not grow.
Many professing Christians are feasting upon “junk food,” or spiritual substitutes for the pure milk of the Word. If we try to adorn the Word of God with “ornaments” or make our worship about the ornaments–whether it’s a particular worship style or a popular speaker, or what have you–then we are getting our sustenance from something other than that which fully nourishes us and feeds our desire for more of the Lord.
Indeed, the reason some professing Christians are not growing is because they are in the habit of feasting upon junk food; something that may taste good, but it is not nutritious.
Peter’s point: desire the pure milk of the Word that you may grow thereby. Drink in the Word of the Lord that you may live for and love more the Lord of the Word.
Rid yourself of sin.
Feed yourself with the Word.
Finally:
Delight Yourself in the Lord
Remember: we study the Word of the Lord that we may live for and love more the Lord of the Word. Bible study is all about growing in our love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (verse 3)
The word “if” there is better translated “Since” or “Because.” It’s like a father saying to his son, “If you’re my son, this is what you’ll do.” There’s no doubt that he is his father’s son; it’s just a way for his father to stress something important.
So Peter says, “If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” then this is what you’ll do: you will desire the pure milk of the Word that you may grow thereby.
To “taste” is to know by experience. To “taste” of the Lord is to be born-again. It is a personal experience.
In essence, Peter is saying, “Those of you who are born-again; those of you who have ‘tasted and know that the Lord is good,’ you will keep on tasting. You will taste Him and experience Him more and more as you read and feast upon His Word.”
Once again: you read the Word of the Lord to know better the Lord of the Word.
Every time you hear His Word or read His Word, you are experiencing deeper fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And when you feast upon the Lord Jesus Christ, you are nourishing yourself with the One who gives true life!
What About You?
- How serious are you about “taking nourishment” from the Word of the Lord that you may know more of the Lord of the Word?
- Are you reading God’s Word every day?
- What are some examples of “junk food” that professing Christians may be tempted to substitute for spiritual nourishment?
Wordpress Comments: