Growing Up in Salvation

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2-3).

For the past couple of weeks we have been looking at the role and the place God’s word has in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ.

Today, we look at one of the keys to spiritual growth.

Our verse says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in salvation.”

The source of growing up in salvation is God’s pure spiritual milk, God’s word. Simply put, a disciple cannot ever grow in faith apart from reading and digesting God’s word. Just because one reads and studies God’s word doesn’t mean that a person is growing in the faith. But, when a disciple is not reading and studying God’s word, spiritual growth is impossible.

There are two things we can learn about the relationship God’s word has with the follower of Jesus Christ: first, it tells us the posture disciples are to have toward God’s word, and secondly it tells us the attitude disciples are to have toward God’s word.

First, the posture disciples are to have toward God’s word is that of an infant. When babies enter our world, they have one objective: grow. In order to grow, babies need momma’s milk. Babies enter the world with an innate desire to suck. Just a mere touch of the finger to their cheek, babies instinctively turn toward the finger to suck. Babies think that the finger might be the source of momma’s milk. Babies are born to suck. Because without milk, babies don’t grow. Babies die.

When we first become a follower of Jesus Christ, we are to have the same posture and mindset regarding God’s word as that of newborn babies to milk. It is our greatest source of spiritual nourishment.

Secondly, the attitude followers of Jesus are to have toward God’s word is to crave and long for God’s spiritual milk.

• We don’t read and study God’s word just because it’s good for us. And it is good for us.
• We don’t read and study God’s word just because it will help us to grow. And it will help us to grow.
• We crave and long for God’s word because it is good. In fact verse three tells us that we have already tasted the pure spiritual milk and it is good.
• Just as we crave for a good juicy burger, a nice piece of steak, we are to crave and long for God’s word.

We are to have a sense of expectation and longing to hear the very voice of God when we read and study God’s word.

Imagine if I were to say to my wife, “I guess I will spend time with you since I have to. After all I am married to you. I guess we’ll go out. Not too excited about it, but I guess I have to do it. You are my wife.”

How would that fly?

Such a marriage would never last.

Yet, some do this to God all the time. The simple reality is that every time we read God’s word, we enter into God’s presence. There ought to be a sense of excitement and anticipation to see what God might have to say to us.

God’s word is indispensable to the follower of Jesus Christ. The surest way to grow up in our salvation is to drink God’s pure spiritual milk, the word of God.

The next time you open up God’s word, know that God is verily present with you.