Message summary:  We should always desire the milk of God's Word, even the simple, familiar truths. Spiritual hunger is a vital sign of spiritual health.

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"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).

The baby robins in the nest above are located about 3' off our deck in our miniature Hibiscus tree. Ester captured this photo of these hungry robins from inside our dining room window since they are located right at our eye level in the hibiscus tree. They're growing rapidly as a result of their ravenous appetite (unfortunately the third egg never hatched). In our photo these baby birds are craving a tasty, protein-filled worm which is not the food I crave first thing in the morning (or any time for that matter)!

We observe their parents sharing the feeding duties in keeping their little ones fed while always being on the look-out for predators such as our little dogs and even us. They are unaware that we are also watching out for them and have chosen not to charge them rent for their love nest or the straw and debris they stole from our yard to build it. We even cleaned up the mess they left behind building it!

Craving can have a negative connotation such as how it is used in 1 John 2:16, "The cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does".  Retailers work very hard to get people craving.

But Peter uses an illustration of healthy craving in the daily text. Being hungry and craving food is a sign of physical health. A failure to have an appetite is a sign of ill health. Peter applies this to the spiritual appetite using hungry babies as an example. "Like newborn babies".

Peter says we are to "crave pure spiritual milk". The Greek word for "crave" means an "intense longing". God has provided in His Word spiritual milk. It's interesting to me that in several other Scripture portions (1 Corinthians 3:2 and Hebrews 5:12-14) milk is conveyed as something that is the beginning point from which we are to advance. But Peter reminds his readers that they are to always have a desire for the spiritual milk. He appeals to all believers, not just new ones.

The purpose of this craving is, "so that by it you may grow up in your salvation". Just as adequate nutrition is essential to make us grow physically the same is true spiritually. Growing up in our salvation is a lifelong pursuit!

"Now that you have tasted that the Lord is good". Perhaps Peter was alluding to Psalm 34:8, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good".

I hope I will always have a desire for the milk of God's Word, even the simple, familiar truths. Spiritual hunger is a vital sign of spiritual health. 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. An old hymn, "I love to tell the story" describes it like this: "for those who know it best, seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest". May that always be true in our lives!

Be encouraged today!  Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber