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Our Desire To Be Fed | pastor-mikes-blog
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby." 1 Peter 2:2
Picture, if you will, a newborn baby. They look so innocent and lovable. The only thing that really upsets them (other than if they are sick), is when they are hungry. When their stomachs get empty they cry and fuss and scream; but feed them and they soon return to that joyful, playful, little bundle of life. The child is designed for its mother's milk, and the mother's milk is designed for their child. To those who have had children themselves this should be a familiar picture, one that hopefully brings back many fond memories. It is one of the most basic principles of life.
This scripture talks about those who are newly Born Again. It tells us that just as babies in the natural desire the milk provided by their mother - even so, those who are genuinely Born Again should crave and desire sincere milk of the Word of God! A newborn infant will cry until it is fed, and when it is full, it rests satisfied. Do we do that for the Word of God? Do we cry and scream because our spirits are empty and need to be fed? Other than love and affection, food is the most basic need for the newborn. Hunger, more than anything else, will bring a reaction. Is it that way with us? If not, then we must ask ourselves WHY? The newborn really cares about nothing else but being fed and held. In the natural, when we see an infant that does not want to eat, we know that there is a problem. It should be the same way in the spiritual. "New converts" who show no desire for the word of God and fellowship, should indicate to us that there is a problem! Something is wrong with the baby who does not want to eat, and there is something wrong with the "convert" who does not desire God's Word! We must ask ourselves this question, "Have they really tasted that the Lord is good?"
Our need for food does not diminish as we get older. It may become more refined and restrained. We may not cry and fuss as a baby (although with some we might wonder), but it is still one of the most basic of all human needs. Our desire for the Word of God should never diminish throughout our Christian walk; in fact, it should increase. The more that God reveals Himself to us through His Word, the more we should desire to read and devour it. It is impossible to have a genuine desire for God and not to have an equally genuine desire for His Word! The Word of God is the foundation for our relationship with Him. More than feelings; more than emotions; more than signs and wonders; it is the Word of God that defines who we are in Him and the quality of our relationship with Him.
So where does this leave us? We all must ask ourselves this question: How much do I really desire His Word? The answer to that question will tell us how much we really desire Him. This may seem hard. It is not meant to condemn. We are living in very significant times. I personally believe that we are living in the final hours before the Lord's return. Jesus warned that many would be deceived, and that the love of many would grow cold. I don't want anyone to be in that category. We won't be if we have a genuine, heartfelt desire for the Word of God. But even if Jesus does not return for several decades or centuries, to desire the Word of God is to desire LIFE, God's LIFE! And that is something that we can never get enough of!!!
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perry meade
