Craving Spiritual Growth

I can still remember when my daughter was an infant. When she became hungry she’d let us know it. She couldn’t talk to say, “I want some milk”, but there was no question about it. It didn’t matter if it was 2:00 in the morning. She’d cry until her hunger was satisfied. Babies need to feed fairly frequently to be healthy and grow.

Peter describes Christian health and growth using the image of newborns as an illustration.

1 Peter 2:2 NIV84

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Peter began his letter by reminding us that as believers we have been chosen by God, and that as a result He gave us new life so that we can be His people. After describing what that new life should look like, holy and obedient, he then goes on in chapter 2 to remind us of how that new life is sustained, what is necessary for continued life and growth.

Newborn babes

When we are first given new birth we are like newborn babies – immature, untaught. But the thing about newborns is that they don’t need to be told that they need milk. They crave it instinctively. You can offer them the finest steak and they’ll refuse it. You can even try to give them chocolate and they’ll turn away. But put a milk bottle to their lips and watch them drain it dry. That’s they way we are desire our spiritual milk.

Those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, as Peter goes on to say in verse 3, will have this craving. Once you’ve experienced the richness of this spiritual milk you can’t get enough of it.

Peter is not saying that his readers are new believers or immature. At least some, if not many, of Peter’s readers may have been Christians for thirty years. Rather, even though they have been believers for many years they are still to have the same ardent desire for spiritual food as a newborn craves milk. We never out grow our need for nourishment.

If a newborn, or any person for that matter, has no appetite we’d be worried about them. Not wanting food is usually a sign that something is wrong, it’s unhealthy. In the same way, if a believer shows no interest in spiritual food it shows that there’s a problem. So, what is our spiritual food?

Spiritual milk

From the context it would seem that Peter intends this milk to be the word of God. A few verses earlier he said that they were given new birth through the word. Now they are to desire that word as nourishment for their continued growth.

This is something that believers are to crave, in fact, Peter commands that we crave it. An indicator of spiritual health is the believer’s desire for the word of God. Just as we never outgrow our need for physical food, we need to be spiritually nourished daily.

It is too easy to fill ourselves with spiritual junk food, which can lead to not being hungry for God’s word. Our old nature craved so many things of this world, and those old cravings can still try to assert themselves.

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

God’s word is a basic part of a believer’s daily diet. Other important ingredients are prayer, worship, and fellowship, and ultimately God Himself sustaining and nourishing us through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.

Grow up

Just as babies need milk to grow and be healthy, so we need spiritual nourishment if we are to grow as disciples. When we partake of this food we will grow up, mature. If we don’t have a regular diet we will shrivel up. Physical growth is naturally limited by age. Spiritual growth in salvation goes on forever. If someone feels that they aren’t growing spiritually it’s because they aren’t taking nourishment, they aren’t really spending time in God’s word.

Maturing means putting away the things of our old nature - malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind as Peter says in verse 1. It also means becoming more like Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:18 NIV84

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

In salvation

The goal of growing up is our ultimate salvation, our deliverance from God’s judgment when Christ returns,

Do you want to grow up? Spend time in the word.

Do you want to mature? Read the word.

Do you want to know God better? Study the word.

Do you want to experience salvation? Live by the word.