A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Wednesday,
May
5,
2021
Lebanon
County Dairy Farm
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
"Healthy
Craving"
Message
summary: For
all believers spiritual hunger is a vital sign of
spiritual health.
Note: Due to technical issues podcast not available for this message.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). “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).
On
Monday we shared a photo of baby robins craving a
tasty worm from their mom. Their craving is a sign of
good health. We see this in babies who do not hesitate
to let their caregivers (mostly Mom) know when they're
hungry.
In
humans a medical condition known as "failure to
thrive" includes a lack of appetite. In 1988 we hosted
Heber, an 18 month child who was our first child from
Guatemala. He had a severe heart condition called
Tricuspid Atresia. He very much needed corrective
surgery but at his first cardiologist's appointment he
was diagnosed with "failure to thrive". When he
arrived he was unable to sit up on his own at 18
months of age which was a distressing sight. He just
sort of flopped over. Heber was physically very weak
and had little appetite so it took us several months
to build up his strength before he could be admitted
for open heart surgery.
Peter
says we to, "like newborn babies, crave pure
spiritual milk". The Greek word for crave "means
to have a strong desire for something". God has
provided in His Word pure spiritual milk. In several
other Scripture portions milk is conveyed as something
that is the beginning point from which we are to
advance. (See I Corinthians 3:2 and Hebrews 5:12-13.) But Peter
reminds his readers that they are to always desire
spiritual milk. His appeal is to all believers,
not just new ones.
We may think of milk as the simple
fundamental truths of the spiritual life. I hope I
always desire the milk of God’s Word, even the
familiar truths I have heard since I was a child.
Peter uses this figurative language to give readers
the mental picture of infants craving nourishment.
Anyone who has been a parent or even been around
babies knows how they vocally and vigorously express
their desire to be fed when they are hungry.Just as physical hunger is a sign of physical health for a newborn, throughout our lifetime a healthy appetite is a sign of our well-being as well, though some of us take that a little to the extreme and suffer a different kind of consequence!
Newborn babies act as if their life depends
on their next feeding, an attitude that should be true
of believers regarding spiritual nourishment, for
Jesus Himself stated that... “Man shall not live
and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by
every word that comes forth from the mouth of God”
(Matthew 4:4, Amplified).
For all
believers spiritual hunger is a vital sign of
spiritual health. This is a primary means of spiritual
growth. Whether we’re new in our faith or have walked
with the Lord for many years, like newborn babies, we
are to crave pure spiritual milk. The old hymn says it
so well, “I Love To Tell The Story for those who know
it best, seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like
the rest.” May that be our testimony as well.
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we lift our cup to You for a fresh filling of
Your Holy Spirit that refreshes, invigorates,
encourages, convicts and guides us into all
truths. We want to be vigilant in our
spiritual walk, never sighing at old truths
but making them the unchanging foundation on
which we build newly understood truths and
personal experiences in which You reveal
Yourself to us. We will continue to grow up in
our salvation as we partake of all that You
have provided to meet our spiritual needs and
nourish us in the faith. In Jesus’ name we
pray. Amen.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we lift our cup to You for a fresh filling of
Your Holy Spirit that refreshes, invigorates,
encourages, convicts and guides us into all
truths. We want to be vigilant in our
spiritual walk, never sighing at old truths
but making them the unchanging foundation on
which we build newly understood truths and
personal experiences in which You reveal
Yourself to us. We will continue to grow up in
our salvation as we partake of all that You
have provided to meet our spiritual needs and
nourish us in the faith. In Jesus’ name we
pray. Amen.
Yesterday
we attended a Senior Luncheon in Camp Hill, PA
and visited with David Selleck, who was my
Presbyter (supervisor) when Brooksyne and I
first began ministry here in the northeast in
1977. We planted a church in northern
Pennsylvania and remained with that faithful
congregation for nearly sixteen years. Pastor
Selleck was not only an advisor but a great
encouragement not just in the beginning stages
but also as our little congregation grew over
the years.
He
is now 94 years of age and seems to be doing
very well although he told me he thought this
would be the last minister's meeting he could
attend. He still drives down from his home in
Clarion, PA! He's been a widower for many
years and seeks to keep his light shining for
Christ. As one of yesterday's verses states, "They
will still bear fruit in old age, they will
stay fresh and green, proclaiming, 'The LORD
is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no
wickedness in Him'" (Psalm 92:14,15).
Yesterday
this truck was parked near our car during the
luncheon. We are heartened to know of the
great work being done all over the world with
food distribution via Convoy of Hope.
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a message to Stephen
& Brooksyne
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Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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