The Pure Milk

"Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious".    1 Peter 2:1-2.  NKJV

It's time for a spiritual check-up. This allows all of us to look inwards and play the video back on how we have handled being a Christian over the past year or so. It's good to do this because, we can become stuck in clay that makes us sink into despair and wrong type of living. Peter highlighted a few things that we may care to examine:

Malice  This is a desire to harm others or to see others suffer. Can we really do this? you bet we can. What about the times that we see someone we don't particularly like, make a mistake? They may brag about their fancy lifestyle and their success in all they do but then, through one error, they lose their job, prang their sports car or come under scrutiny in the community. If this happens, it can be so hard not to gloat or feel satisfaction. We don't intend to, it just happens, This is just one area that needs addressing.

Hypocrisy  We profess this, that and the other about our Christian life and then negate it by something that we shouldn't do and, one of the people we've been talking to about our faith, is a witness to this. 

Envy  We can tend to be envious about another Christian's success, promotion, wealth, along with a new house and fine furniture to fill it with. Nothing seems to worry them. It's easy to become full of envy, especially if you are struggling with bills and money worries. However, being envious of them will not solve your problems. Thank God for this success instead; God likes this.

Evil speaking (Slander)  Do you feel yourself wanting to talk slanderously about someone? Perhaps they have been up to no good but only you seem to know about it, and this prompts you to spill the beans so that others know too. Don't do it. God will not look upon you favourably if you do. It is not your business;l leave it to God and He will sort it, if it needs to be sorted.

There may be more as you consider your annual check-up. Peter points out a very important thing - 'desire the pure milk of the word'. To be able to survive in Christian growth, it does us good to remember how we approached new life in Jesus when we were saved. We needed to grow, so we attended church and bible studies, we also read our bible, even though we didn't understand half of it. We became nourished in the Word. Sadly, some of us may have stopped doing some of this, going to church once a week like a zombie; hardly remembering any of the sermon. You may have read some bible notes each day but, that was it - you became malnourished.

Check a baby's behaviour, it doesn't need to be reminded that it is meal time and it most definitely doesn't go all the week on just one meal. It devours milk each and every day and it begins to grow. Likewise, you can't expect to survive spiritually if you only have one meal a week (church). You need spiritual nourishment everyday - reading your bible, studying the Word and praying, otherwise you will shrivel up and become dry.

Therefore, on your spiritual check-up, cast aside all the things that you have assessed as wrong and commit yourself to desiring the pure milk of the Word and then if you keep this up, you will notice a big difference on your next annual check-up.

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. 

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

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