1 Peter 2:2-3
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
To study today’s verse, we’re going to start by reflecting on what it means to be a newborn infant—one who is old enough to read and understand scripture! For indeed God has spoken through Peter to encourage us in our ways with Him. We are to be like a newborn infant and how interesting is that given what Jesus has spoken about the matter. In John chapter 3, a Pharisee named Nicodemus visits Jesus in the night and says to him starting in verses 1-6, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born? Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
So, indeed, on our journey in Christ, we all start off as a newborn infant, born from above of the Spirit. This verse is telling us to consider that we are like this—a newborn who hungers powerfully for its mother’s milk. When a baby is born, one of the first things it does is to root around for its mother’s breast in search of sustenance. It will grow at a tremendous rate and must feed frequently to keep up with the design of God’s growth for it. We are to take note of these behaviors and realities babies face. Without food, a baby will suffer hunger and cry out until it’s mother feeds it and soothes its pain. We too must be like this child and long with a deep spiritual instinct and hunger for the truth of God and His Word, our spiritual milk. We must cry out for the truth of God! Proverbs 2:2-5 states, “…if indeed you cry out for insight, and raise your voice for understanding… then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.” We must feed ourselves frequently because God’s design for our growth is just like that newborn baby. When we get saved, we are to grow rapidly in knowledge and wisdom as we nourish our hunger for truth feeding on the Word of God.
In 1 Cor 13, the apostle Paul contrasted spiritual milk from solid food. Spiritual milk was the foundational teachings of Christ and the gospels while solid food was more complex matters for more mature believers. When Peter calls us all to yearn as infants for this spiritual milk, it shows us that we must all always remind ourselves of the simple truths of the gospels so that we may grow into our salvation. My husband always says salvation has three parts- regeneration (being born again), sanctification, and glorification. We “grow into salvation” as we are being sanctified into the image of Christ. So, we need this truth and knowledge to be sanctified and stand on solid ground as we face the tests and trials of our faith journey.
Peter puts a caveat on his statement—“if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Have we tasted this spiritual milk and experienced its sweet savor personally? Have you given thought to how much God has done for you in your life? In what specific ways have you tasted that the Lord is good? Have you known His provision, faithfulness, or compassion? Consider all that God has done for you and ask yourself, Do I long for His pure spiritual milk? And how can I nourish myself with this sweet sustenance? What can we do other than commit to learning God’s truth daily? Well, Jesus said one thing to His disciples when He called them: Follow Me. And He says the same to each of His believers and children today.
In Matthew 11:29, he encourages us in how to do this, saying, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” So, this is how we are called to follow Him—to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him. We walk with Him daily in His Spirit. We let His Spirit guide us into His essential and fundamental truths. We seek Him in His Word and learn from Him. He left us His life as an example and taught many amazing principles and parables for us to consider deeply as we grow into our salvation. In this easy yoke and light burden, we see that we can learn and grow in the freedom provided by His mercy for our failures and mistakes. With a repentant heart and genuine spirit of love for Him, His mercy covers our “learning curve” and we can experience His saving compassion on our way in life.
Likely, there are times you can think of the ways He has shown you these things, ways that you have indeed tasted the He is Good. Make notes of His faithfulness. Sit and write it down in your journal. Read it from time to time and remind yourself frequently and especially when you are struggling in your faith in tests and trials. This is how we keep our faith strong. We must build ourselves up in our most holy faith! Just as the Word teaches us. And we do this by remembering His goodness—how we have indeed tasted that He is Good. And how we are ultimately His precious child and can always nourish ourselves in His spiritual milk, in His goodness and truth as we grow in sanctity and in our salvation. Let us yearn for His truth as we walk with Him in His mercy day by day. We bear an easy yoke and a light burden in following Him because we have the most valuable gift of all in this journey—our precious Savior by our side.