Grow

Grow…

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. ~ 1 Peter 2:2

A new believer … an infant disciple and follower of Jesus … has an unfamiliar and challenging journey of faith ahead of them. Like newborn babies, we must learn to sit up and crawl before we can walk. We are first nourished with milk before we have teeth strong enough to eat solid food. (Cf. Hebrews 5:13-14) The born-again experience is simply the beginning of a new life in Christ Jesus; and from there, we are admonished to grow in every aspect of grace that faith brings us as we progress in maturity. Indeed, Peter admonishes us to live holy and godly lives in light of the soon return of our Lord Jesus! (2 Peter 3) And we can do so as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)

Now, more than ever, we need to be growing in grace. It is only through the Gospel that we truly understand the manifold graces of God. For in Jesus, we receive and experience the incomparable riches of God’s grace. In Him we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins. (Ephesians 1:7) Through Him we receive peace with God and receive eternal life! (John 3:36) Yes, these are just some of the expressions of God’s unmerited lovingkindness toward us in His Son. (Cf. 1 John 4:9-10; Ephesians 2:6-7) So, let us grow in full understanding of His grace in order to grow up in our salvation.

Likewise, in this generation of the Church, we need to be growing in knowledge of our Lord Jesus; increasing in all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives; and abounding in the grace that produced our faith through the Word of God, so that we can live lives worthy of the callings we have received. (Cf. Colossians 1:9-14) Each one of us needs to find our spiritual giftings and take our place of service in the Body of Christ, so that corporately we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Cf. Ephesians 4:1-16)

My friends, growth is a natural process both physically and spiritually. It is readily seen in our human maturation process; and we can certainly ascertain if our spiritual growth is keeping in step. Our Lord Jesus has called us all to flourish in body, soul, and spirit! We are fashioned for growth through the exercising of our Holy Spirit appointed roles within the Church … fulfilling the good works that God ordained in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

So, today I pray that we will always be diligent and passionate in our pursuit of spiritual growth! Let us persevere in every act produced by faith, every effort prompted by love, and every hope inspired by our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:3) Yes, let us stay connected to the glorious Head so that the whole Body will grow has God causes it to grow. (Colossians 2:19) Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Grow…

Grow…

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” ~ 2 Peter 3:18

In his second epistle, Peter exhorts believers to live holy and godly lives in light of the return of our Lord Jesus:

2 Peter 3:8-14 (NIV)

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you – not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you wait eagerly for that Day of God to come. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.

Now, more than ever, we need to be growing in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus … increasing in all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives … abounding in the grace that produced our faith through the Word of God … living lives worthy of the callings we have received. Oh, yes! Each one of us needs to find and take our place in the Body of Christ so that we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Cf. Ephesians 4:1-16)

Growth is a natural process both physically and spiritually. It is the readily seen in our human maturation process; and we can certainly ascertain if our spiritual growth has been stunted or not. Our Lord Jesus has called us to flourish in body, soul, and spirit! We are fashioned for growth through the exercising of our roles within the Church … doing the good works that Father God ordained for us in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10) Yes, let us grow up in our salvation! (1 Peter 2:2)

My friends, I pray that we will always be diligent and passionate in our pursuit of Kingdom-minded growth! Let us persevere and not grow weary for the sake of Christ Jesus and His glorious Name! Amen….

Have a Blessed Day!

Slumber…

Slumber…

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— (Proverbs 6:10)

I find it interesting that a lazy person only asks for a little sleep … a little slumber. Perhaps he would be offended if he were accused of outright laziness. A little is all that is desired. Perhaps he thinks “a little” is easier to conceal…. But let us see the outcome of “a little” over the span of time:

Proverbs 6:6-11 (NIV)

Go to the ant, you lazy person; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

Proverbs 24:30-34 (NIV)

I went past the field of a lazy person, past the vineyard of someone who has no wisdom or discernment. Thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

Charles Surgeon observed: “It is by little procrastinations that people ruin their souls! They have no intention of delaying for years. They hope that it will be more convenient for them to seek God in a few months. They will get around to serious matters tomorrow.” And little by little, time eludes their attention. Indeed, life is wasted in small amounts! Opportunities for grace to be encountered are often taken for granted. And in the end, that person comes to spiritual poverty because of a little sleep … a little slumber … along their journey of faith.

As poverty will come to the idle, so ruin will come to those who remain undecided about Jesus. Yes, death will come to the unrepentant; and the unbeliever will miss salvation! For as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment; so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, Jesus will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Hebrews 9:27-28)

My friends, there will come a solemn day when it will be too late to repent and believe. I urge you to do so today: because the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, and our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here! Therefore, put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of His light. (Romans 13:11-12)

Have a Blessed Day!

Grace…

Grace…

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:14, 16-17)

The Apostle John had great insight and wisdom into the deep significance of the Son of God … His origin in eternity past; His intimate relationship with the Father; and the ordained purpose for which He was sent into the world. The grace of the Law given through Moses was sufficient; and yet, a greater grace was sent from heaven to be received in faith by those who believe. As Paul articulated: “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. (Cf. Romans 5:1-2)

The grace of God is rooted in His Being. It is just as inherent as His great compassion, His unfailing love, and His enduring mercy. His utmost purpose from the beginning has been for us, His treasured possession, to experience the delight of His goodness and love; to abide in His glorious presence through intimate fellowship; and to walk in the beauty of holiness just as He is holy. It is apparent that grace has been integral to the plan of God to see the desires of His heart come to pass. “For if righteousness could be gained through the Law, then Christ Jesus died for nothing.” (Cf. Galatians 2:21)

Our Lord Jesus is the expressed grace of God! As Paul explained: “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:4-9)

My friends, “God has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior. (2 Timothy 1:9-10) Therefore, I urge us all to embrace the fullness of His grace! For His grace is more than sufficient for us! His power is made perfect in our weakness!” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Have a Blessed Day!

Created in Christ Jesus…

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Our Verse of the Day is one that I often quote in our studies and commentaries. I believe its revelation of purpose for our lives remains true and unchanged. It is a straightforward declaration that forms a framework in which to view our lives in the light of the transforming message of the Gospel. Let’s look closer at the context:

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh (sinful nature) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But God, because of His great love for us, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

When Paul uses the phrase “we are God’s handiwork” (also translated workmanship), I think he is referring to His loved-filled power to make us alive in Christ … to become new creations in Him. As Jesus explained, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (Cf. John 3:5-8) And Paul affirmed, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17) And, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.” (Cf. Galatians 6:15) In other words, it is not about what or who you were before you came to faith in Christ Jesus, it is about the new creation you have become through faith in Him … and that is not of yourself. It is the gift of God!

Yes, in Christ we are spiritual creations … the workmanship of God the Father; and He has ordained for our identities to formed apart from our physical characteristics … our ethnicities … our biological determinants … or our social status. “So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Cf. Galatians 3:26-28) Indeed, in Christ Jesus we have received new identities as united members of His Body. We have been gifted and equipped to serve and minister to others; yes, we are saved to serve and to do those good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. I truly believe this is how we should view ourselves … and submit ourselves to God and to one another. As Paul expounded:

Romans 12:1-8 (NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

My friends, it is my prayer that we will always remember our salvation through faith in Jesus is a precious gift of grace. We have been saved to serve! This is our identity as new creations, and we are inseparable from the Father who created us in His own image. That image is manifested in His Son, Jesus, because He is the exact representation of the Father. (Cf. Hebrews 1:3) As Jesus told Philip, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (Cf. John 14:9) Indeed, let us remember that whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did. (Cf. 1 John 2:6)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ~ Ephesians 4:22-24

Humbly Accept The Word…

James 1:21 (NIV)

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you.

Our Verse of the Day takes another look at the spiritual disciplines that are paramount to our profession of faith and that lead to the obedience that comes from faith. This ‘active’ believing, if you will, plays a critical role in our fellowship with God; abiding in Him so that we are able to accomplish the good works He ordained in advance for us to do. (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) So I would like us to see them in the surrounding context:

James 1:18-25 (NIV)

He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all He created. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to (or only simply read) the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says! Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

It is apparent that the study and practice of the Word of God is what will cleanse us from our natural, sinful human condition. It will reveal the moral filth in our lives. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Cf. Hebrews 4:12) The Word of God will direct us in our thinking and manifest itself in changed behavior. Without it, we are essentially lost in the forest of life … without a compass or guide for direction. I know we have looked at these other Scriptures before, but I think they are applicable to our theme:

Psalm 119:9-11 (NIV)

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

2 Timothy 3:13-17 (NIV)

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Matthew 7:23-25 (NIV)

Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

My friends, it is my prayer that we will humbly accept the Word of God into our inner beings. I pray that we will allow it to change the intents of the thoughts of our hearts … so that we might be changed. The Word of God is the power of God to reveal His will and to equip us to obey it. And we must realize that bible study and meditation require intentional time and significant effort on our part. But if we will commit to do the work and to delight in His Word, I believe the difference it will make in our fellowship with God is beyond compare! So, I pray for each of us to make it a habit to be in God’s Word each day – finding out what it says, applying it to our hearts, and then putting it into practice.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. ~ Psalm 119:12-16

No More Condemnation…

John 3:17 (NIV)

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Our Verse of the Day is perhaps the greatest news we could share with anyone who is struggling with their past failures and feeling unworthy of the redemption and reconciliation Father God has offered to the world through Jesus Christ! Self-condemnation can be a vicious stronghold to break if our concept of a God is one of judgment and wrath alone. To be sure, Scripture reveals both the judgment and wrath of God … but both are reserved for those who reject Christ Jesus and do not place their faith in Him. Indeed, this verse declares the kindness and love of God so that each person is given the opportunity to repent of their sins and failures. Let’s look at this verse in the surrounding context:

John 3:16-21 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

God sent Jesus to be the atonement for the sins of the world. That is the purpose for which God gave Him to us. It is the atonement of His blood that we are to believe and receive … to place our faith in Him and to proclaim His self-sacrifice as all-sufficient to pay our sin debt and to redeem us from the condemnation of sin. Whoever believes in Him is no longer condemned! Believers have been set free … forgiven … released. Believers are no longer under the law of sin (Cf. Romans 7:23-25) … but now abide under the law of liberty! (Cf. James 1:25) So the application here is to believe! Believe the testimony of God regarding His Son whom He sent to be our Savior. “Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? (Cf. Romans 2:4) As the Apostle John expounded: when we reject the testimony of God about His Son, Jesus, we have in essence called God a liar….

1 John 5:9-12 (NIV)

We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which He has given about His Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about His Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

God does not want us to live under the weight of condemnation, but God has made it clear that each human must make their personal decision about Jesus. Believe and receive eternal life OR reject and remain in condemnation. God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Cf. Romans 5:8) A person is not condemned for what they have done … the sin they have committed … or their failure to live up to the moral law God has decreed; rather, a person remains under condemnation for rejection of God’s grace … for refusing the forgiveness and redemption He has offered to us through the death of His Son. Think about it a moment! God willingly sacrificed His One and Only Son for the sin of the world. Jesus is the only atonement God would accept because of His own holiness. The blood of an animal sacrifice is insufficient to purge sin. (Cf. Isaiah 1:11; Isaiah 66:1-4; Hebrews 10)

So, when a person rejects what God has done … what has God ordained for true life in Him … He allows that person to remain in condemnation because they refused to receive the propitiation provided on their behalf. When a person rejects Jesus Christ … they reject the Father as well. (Cf. John 5:22-24; 1 John 2:22-23) It is not a loving God that sends a person to hell; rather, it is a loving God who makes provision for a person to be saved from the condemnation and wrath of sin. That provision is His Son … Jesus! And this is the message that we who are ambassadors of Christ are called to share. As Paul asserted: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

Romans 8:1-10 (NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set us free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

Do you know anyone who feels condemned or has fallen into self-condemnation? Share this good news with them! God has made provision to remove all condemnation through Christ Jesus. Let condemnation be replaced with conviction! Yes, let conviction bring confession … so that we agree with God that His Word and righteous decrees are holy and just. Oh, there is hope for the sinner who feels condemned! There is freedom for the captive and the broken-hearted! For the kindness of God is intended to lead us to repentance! God sent His light into the world, and His light has overcome the darkness! (Cf. John 1:5) I pray we will share that light with whosoever will listen; and pray God will grant them the gift of repentance and bring them to a knowledge of the Truth….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. ~ Romans 5:15-19

Got Milk?

1 Peter 2:2-3 (NIV)

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

In our Verse of the Day, Peter is encouraging us to “grow up in our salvation.” What does that mean? How do we “grow” in our salvation? Well, our growth begins with our new birth in Christ (once we have experienced His goodness) and our need for spiritual nourishment (crave pure spiritual milk) to sustain us. Let’s read the larger context to better understand the metaphor he uses to illustrate. The foundation is laid in the preceding chapter, 1 Peter 1, and continues in 1 Peter 2. I reprinted the most relevant passages for us:

1 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (Citing Leviticus 11:44-45)

1 Peter 1:22-25 (NIV)

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from a pure heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” (Citing Isaiah 40:6-8) And this is the word that was preached to you.

1 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV)

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

I believe in this brief overview we see some key principles that Peter wants us to understand. When we first come to faith in Jesus, we do so as new creatures – born of the living and enduring Word of God … born again of the Spirit who wrote the Scriptures through holy men of God as He moved them. (Cf. 2 Peter 1:19-21) As Paul articulated it: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Cf. Romans 10:17) The Apostle John affirms that “whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Cf. John 3:16; 3:36) So it follows that as “newborn babies in the Spirit” we are in need of “spiritual food” to sustain us. Spiritual milk is a great metaphor to use! Just like babies, we should be “craving” this milk to satisfy our hunger and thirst for righteousness…. But we are exhorted to move on and to grow in our faith. Let’s me how this metaphor is used elsewhere is the NT scriptures:

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NIV)

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

Hebrews 5:12-14 (NIV)

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

There is a pattern with these NT writers – urging us to grow up and to move on in spiritual maturity. And I have noticed that milk appears to be associated with the initial phases of sanctification – bringing our sinful nature into submission, growing in holiness, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit in our relationships. Perhaps this is why both Peter and Paul prayed for believers to “grow in their knowledge of God and of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” And growth will come as we spend time reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God. As we spend time in prayer and discipline ourselves with fasting, we will mature in our understanding and wisdom. This is what growing in our salvation means. This is what adding to our faith means. We move on from milk and begin eating solid food. We move forward from our initial profession of faith into Kingdom service and ministry. Yes, as the Apostle James wrote: “We know the testing of our faith produces perseverance; and let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (Cf. James 1:3-4) Amen!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Peter 1:5-8