Living God’s Way: Milk makes a newborn grow

Carlton G. McPeak
Guest Columnist

There is much in common between a newborn needing milk and the new Christian needing the word of God. Peter uses this metaphor about milk to explain that Christians should be using God’s word to teach other Christians how to grow (1 Peter 2:1-3).

The most important thing to a newborn is their milk. This liquid contains the nutrients necessary for growth and development. One could debate which is better, the mother’s milk or the manufactured formula, but regardless of your position, the fact remains that the child needs milk to grow.

Just like babies “long for the milk,” Peter says the Christian should be longing “for the pure milk of the word.” The Christian, whether new or old, should have a strong desire to consume the word of God so they might grow, eventually resulting in their salvation.

Peter had just mentioned several things they were to put aside from their life. These were all actions one might take toward other people, but should not be a practice of the Christian. They would not promote “a sincere love of the brethren.” They cause hurt feelings and divide brethren.

The word of God will inform the reader of the types of behavior that should be put aside. It is the word of God that will train an individual as to the character they are to have as a Christian.

When considering the amount of time spent feeding a newborn so they can grow, it should give us some idea as to how much time a Christian should be spending with the word of God so they can grow spiritually. When a child is first born, it seems that all the mother does is “feed the baby.” Depending upon the child, every two to three hours around the clock may be dedicated to this. It seems like the mother is always “feeding the baby.”

While not suggesting that a new Christian should be reading or studying their Bible every two to three hours after they first become a Christian, we are suggesting that a person needs to have the same longing “as a newborn baby” for milk, if they want to grow as a Christian. Consuming and dwelling on the godly characteristics found in the word of God should be the basis for the changes a person will make as they grow in their walk as a Christian.

This desire for the knowledge of the word of God should never diminish, but rather the Christian’s cravings for the word of God should increase over time. The more we yearn for this spiritual “milk,” the more we will grow in our development in living God’s way.

Carlton G. McPeak ([email protected])

is an evangelist working in the Florida Gateway region.

Scriptural quotations from the NASB.