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.
I Peter 2:2-3
Let’s be one who genuinely craves the spiritual. Let’s crave pure spiritual milk.
While other references to the “milk metaphor” indicates immaturity, this is not so here. The identification here resonates a hunger and thirst for God’s Word, God’s truth, and for Christ Himself – all that is spiritual.
The descriptive word, “spiritual” (which literally means “logical” – from the Greek, “logikos”) infers that the milk for which we crave is divinely reasonable. We who are now spiritually made new crave that which is spiritual. Spiritual milk does not only reference the Bible, as some would infer, thus referencing simply an exposure to the Scriptures. The application takes us much deeper. The Word of God led to our being born again spiritually (I Peter 1:22-25), and therefore all that is spiritual – namely Christ Himself, ultimately represents the spiritual milk for which we crave. This is quantified by verse 3, “for you have tasted that the Lord is good.” The Word of God always presents the God of the Word. The Word of our Lord always presents Our Lord. So, to take a literal rendering that the milk only references the actual Scriptures is to stop short of what the Bible does not stop short of – and that is, the Bible ultimately points to Christ. So, because this is not an infancy passage where the Bible references the fundamental truths as milk, the milk referenced here points both to the truth of Christ, and points to how we crave the truth of Christ and all that is Spiritual. Therefore, what we crave is not mere knowledge or spiritual information alone. We crave the one topic of such knowledge and spiritual information. We crave the Word because we crave the Living Word, Jesus (“And the Word became flesh”, John 1:14). We crave the Truth. (Incidentally, in Greek terminology, “crave” has the connotation of craving what is fitting, as a baby craves pure milk.) Therefore, we have been born again spiritually, we who have placed our faith in Christ. We are spiritual. And, as fitting, the truly spiritual truly craves the spiritual.
I remember when the “Fit-bit” craze was underway in our culture; those colorful wrist fit trackers that monitors your steps, the way you rest, and more. Now, we have all types of fit devices. I have one on my wrist at this moment. But regardless of the device, the research on the effectiveness of such devices has clearly revealed what is reasonable: those who were most successful with the devices were those who already had a desire to monitor and improve personal health. The reason is because the value for health was innate – essential to the one wearing the device.
In reference to a healthy spiritual life, the desire to grow in our Christian faith must be personally essential. We must crave! If not, no number of devotions, seminars, etc. will be effective. We must approach our spiritual activity from the fact that we truly desire Jesus.
So today, be one who craves. Genuinely live out the cravings for the spiritual milk of the truth of Jesus Christ. And as you crave, remember that those who hunger and thirst after His righteousness will indeed be filled (Matthew 5:6). Crave!
Blessings.
READ
Read and meditate on I Peter 2:1-3, and grow in your cravings for the pure spiritual milk.
