As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious”
1 Peter 2: 2-3 (NKJV)
It is important to know that we can only grow in our Christian life through prayer and studying the Word of God. The Apostle Peter stated that God’s Word not only imparts life to us but it also nurtures and sustains. Apart from God’s Word, we shiver and die like a starving child whose mother’s breasts have dried up and who has no other source of food. Therefore, we must have God’s Word.
For spiritual growth to take place in the life of the believer, one must:
(A) – Desire the Pure Word of God. God’s Word is not deceitful. It is unadulterated. The Bible tells you the truth about yourself. It exposes the very thoughts and motives of your heart so that you have nowhere to hide (Hebrews 4:12-13). We should long for “the pure spiritual milk,” which is rational. The Word of God ought to fill our minds with the knowledge of God and move our hearts with His majesty and love.
(B) – Allow the Word of God to nourish us as Christians for we will never reach a place in this life where we can stop growing.
Four (4) important steps each believer must take in order to grow in Christ:
- Read God’s Word – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)
- Study God’s Word – Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15).
- Pray – “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3).
- Share your faith – (And they overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony….(Revelation 12:11a).
William Gurnall wrote “The Christian is bred by the Word, and he must be fed by it. If you find yourself loving any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than the Bible,…any person better than Christ, or any indulgence better than the hope of heaven – be alarmed”.
The Apostle Peter admonished us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Let us, therefore, leave the pure milk of the Word as newborn babes and begin to absorb strong meat (Hebrews 5:14). As mature believers, let us demonstrate the Fruits of the Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God and His Word alone satisfy.
Prayer
Eternal Father, we thank You for making every provision through Your Word, for us to grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ our Saviour and Lord. It is our prayer, that as we apply the principles that are listed above, we will no longer remain babies but will develop into spiritually mature believers. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Read: Joshua1:8; Psalms 119:18,130; Hebrews 4:12-13
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 54; John 2; Joshua 19; Joshua 20; Joshua 21:1-19
