1 Peter 2:1-6: a reflection

1Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2as newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual milk, that with it you may grow, 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. 5You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious. He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”

Peter urges his readers, having put away malice, deceit, envy, and slander, to long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it they may grow up into salvation, if indeed they have tasted that the Lord is good. He pictures the believer as a newborn craving milk: just as a baby instinctively longs for the milk that nourishes it and makes it grow, so the believer is to long for the pure spiritual nourishment, God's word, that feeds the soul and makes it grow.

Notice the appetite Peter urges: to long for the pure spiritual milk, as a newborn longs for milk. A healthy baby craves milk; it is a sign of life and health, and the means of growth. And Peter says the believer should have the same craving for the spiritual nourishment that feeds and grows the soul, God's word. This longing is a mark of spiritual life and health; and it is the means of growth, for we grow as we feed on what nourishes the soul. Those who have tasted that the Lord is good will crave more.

That appetite is worth cultivating, for our spiritual growth depends on it. Just as a baby grows by craving and taking in milk, so we grow spiritually by longing for and feeding on the nourishment of God's word. A loss of that appetite is a sign of spiritual ill-health, and it stunts our growth. Cultivate a longing for the pure spiritual nourishment of God's word, as a newborn longs for milk; feed on what nourishes your soul, that you may grow. If you have tasted that the Lord is good, let that taste create in you a craving for more, a longing for the spiritual nourishment that feeds and grows the soul. Do not neglect the appetite for God's word, on which your growth depends; long for it, feed on it, and grow, as a healthy newborn longs for milk and grows by it.

Lord, Peter urges me, having put away malice, deceit, envy, and slander, to long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it I may grow up into salvation, having tasted that you are good; he pictures me as a newborn craving the milk that nourishes and makes it grow. Show me the appetite he urges: to long for the pure spiritual nourishment of your word, as a newborn longs for milk. A healthy baby craves milk; it is a sign of life and health, and the means of growth. And you say I should have the same craving for the nourishment that feeds and grows my soul, your word. This longing is a mark of spiritual life and health, and the means of growth. Help me cultivate that appetite, for my spiritual growth depends on it. Just as a baby grows by craving and taking in milk, so I grow spiritually by longing for and feeding on your word. A loss of that appetite is a sign of spiritual ill-health, and it stunts my growth. Help me long for the pure spiritual nourishment of your word, as a newborn longs for milk; help me feed on what nourishes my soul, that I may grow. Having tasted that you are good, let that taste create in me a craving for more, Lord; give me a hunger for your word, on which my growth depends.