Babes in Christ

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

like newborn babies,

long for the pure milk of the word,

so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

1 Peter 2:1-3

I love to see a nursing baby. He/she is getting the best nutrition available to a growing baby. He cries and mom satisfies him with pure milk. We, too, should cry for, or long for, the pure milk of God’s word. It will bring us life and make us chubby in the spirit realm so that we might grow in respect to salvation. Salvation is a one-time event, but understanding and living out that salvation is called sanctification, and it is a life-time pursuit. This pursuit can only take place if we put aside those impure things (malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander) that poison our spiritual walk.

As a newborn babe longs for the pure milk of the mother’s breast, we also, must be born again (newborn) to taste and receive benefit from God’s word. Have you tasted the kindness of the Lord through salvation? Then you are born again and ready to start nursing on the word of God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). This fear is the fear that leads to salvation. First salvation, then knowledge.

“Now for this very reason also [having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust and having been granted the precious and magnificent promises of Christ], applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8

Diligence (“Let the Word of God richly dwell within you.” Colossians 3:16)

Faith (Salvation and relationship)

Moral excellence (putting aside the flesh and living in the Spirit)

Knowledge (Understanding the character and nature of God and your relationship with Him.)

Self-control (Making decisions based upon the character and nature of God and your relationship with Him.)

Perseverance (In faith, believing.)

Godliness (Growing towards maturity.)

Brotherly kindness (Able to give grace to others because you have experienced God’s grace)

Love (Total acceptance and sacrificial giving)

Leads to the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (He is truth, love, and in Him is joy.)

May you sup at the table of God’s word this day and know His salvation, His joy, His grace, His love, and His peace.

Rowan Cade Halydier.