Got Milk
“So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don’t just pretend to be good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing. You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a babe cries for milk, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.” (1 Peter 2:1-3)
When your mom gave birth to you, you became somewhat independent. While in her womb, you pretty much just sat around chillin’ with a feeding tube directly lined in. Once that “feeding tube”, or cord was cut, you eventually experienced hunger for the first time.
Obviously we don’t remember that moment, but can you imagine that?
A major characteristic of a healthy new baby is its instinctive yearning for its mother’s milk. It’s all part of God’s wonderful genus of creation!
That initial milk produced is called colostrum, which is high in the immunoglobulin IgA, which coats the gastrointestinal tract. This helps to protect the newborn until its own immune system is functioning properly1
The mother’s milk actually changes as the baby grows. It provides vitamins and minerals and nutrients that the child needs to grow and develop.
Peter is telling us that Christianity relies on these same principles. As a baby cries out for his mother’s milk, we as Christians should be crying out for spiritual milk – things that will nourish us, keep us healthy, fed, and growing.
There are basically four types of people, and God’s Word cuts right to the point – to the heart of each of us.
1. The Un-Born – those who have yet to experience the new life of having a relationship with Christ.
John 3:3-8, 16-17
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Galatians 6:7-8
Remember, you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow.
Romans 3:23-26; 6:23
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard… People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. The New Born – those who have recently committed their lives to Christ (past few months)
Ephesians 2:1-10
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins…But…he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead…God saved you by his grace when you believed…For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Colossians 3:1-17
…set your sights on the realities of heaven…So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you…clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience…forgiveness…love.
3. The Growing Child – those who have committed their lives to Christ and are beyond the milk
Col. 2:6-7
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Philippians 4:8-9
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
4. SIDs – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
SIDS is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history. 2,500 babies die each year due to SIDs (Willinger et al, 1991).
- Where SIDs in actual babies is unexplainable, SIDs in Christians has a very apparent cause and effect.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
“Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to mature Christians. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn’t handle anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your own sinful desires. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your own desires? You are acting like people who don’t belong to the Lord.”
Hebrews 5:11-14
“There is so much more we would like to say about this. But you don’t seem to listen, so it’s hard to make you understand. You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right.”
Because this church and Student Ministries staff loves you so much, we want to help you grow!
- Life Change: (Newer Christians) Debbie Assid will be hosting a small group in the Annex every Wednesday night during the first part of worship. This group is designed to help you start (or restart) the lifelong process of daily time spent talking, listening, and sharing with the lifechanger himself – Jesus Christ.
- Back to the Basics: (SIDs), Mike Zurrica is leading a small group that will focus on the major priorities of the everyday Christian life; daily devotions, prayer, scripture memory, journaling, note taking, & effectively sharing your faith.
- Totally Consumed: (Growing) Chrissy Nelmes is leading a small group focused on learning and applying what it takes to be a living sacrifice through lifestyle worship.
James 4:7-10
“So let God work his will in you. Yell NO to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet YES to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry out your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master, it’s the only way you’ll get back on your feet.”
In 1517, Hernando Cortez and 700 Spanish soldiers landed on Vera Cruz. Their purpose was to capture Aztec Emperor Montezuma II and to conquer Mexico. After they landed on the beach, Cortez sent a small party of men back to the boats. While those on the shore watched, all eleven ships were burned and sunk. Cortez’s message was simple: There is no turning back. Either we conquer or we fall.
How serious are you about this Christianity thing?
What do you crave, pure spiritual milk or “junk food”?
Monday, February 05, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment