According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, women should exclusively breastfeed infants for the first six months of life. The AAP also recommends breastfeeding be continued by mothers for at least the first year, with additional foods being added starting after six months of age. Breast-milk provides nearly a perfect mix of vitamins, protein and fat for newborn babies. The Bible refers to a different kind of milk filled with spiritual nutrients.
Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation, 3 Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord. 4 Come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which men [a]tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and] precious in God’s sight, 1 Peter 2:2-4.
Unfortunately, not every mother of a newborn is able to nurse their baby. Whether it’s a medical condition or the inability of an infant to properly latch on, formula serves as a substitute. While this may not be an ideal scenario, mothers will make as many sacrifices as possible to ensure the health of their child. In the passage above, Peter uses an analogy so that new Christians begin to crave pure unadulterated spiritual milk.
For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]! 14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law, Hebrews 5:13-14.
Rather than drinking from a bottle, new Christians develop and grow by feeding on the Word of God. Digesting and processing this information takes time for the Bible to naturally sink in. Apparently milk is symbolic of the basic principles of the gospel, Romans 6:23. True spiritual growth takes place when individuals begin to conform to the divine will that God has for you. Unfortunately, many Christians dabble here and there, but never fully mature. May you crave pure unadulterated spiritual milk so that whatever barriers stand in your way from reaching your full potential will finally be overcome in 2022.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 