BREAST MILK OR FORMULA?

So you are now saved, redeemed, delivered, sanctified, and all that. Now what?

You surely can’t remain where you were as a new believer. You need to explore and discover the hidden treasures stored up for you. Where do you begin to search for it? In the Word! The NIV in 1 Peter 2:2 says “as new born babies crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. The operative being crave.

This brings to mind a dear friend who recently had a baby. The baby was so tiny but after a couple of week, the difference was obvious.

What was she fed? Milk, and not just any milk, but breast milk. Reports say there are ingredients specially formulated in the breast milk for a baby in its first six months that cannot be found in any other milk. In fact, as the baby grows, the milk is infused monthly with ingredients to better suit the child’s development. Awesome stuff here!

You should also note that the baby actually cries / asks for the milk before being given. The baby is desperate for the milk, and as much as the baby is given, you could often tell the difference between a breast fed baby and a formula fed baby at the end of six months.

Now this is just a physical illustration of the spiritual process of being fed and nourished by God’s word. The scripture says desire it – when you desire something you usually would go out of your way to get it, even if it’s just a ‘feel’ of it.  Crave the Word, long for it, be obsessed with it, and cry for it till you feed to your satisfaction.

But you might say, what if the baby was fed on formula and actually ‘looks’ healthy? Well, the long run will tell. So it is with you. Are you satisfied with chewing the cud from the pastor? How can you overcome that besetting sin without a befitting scripture? How will you engage in spiritual warfare without being wounded if you don’t have the sword of the Spirit; which is the Word of God?

Just say one word from scripture you would tell the enemy when he comes telling you that this whole Jesus story is a farce, and you’re a fool to believe (in) Him. You see, the sincere milk of the Word is an indispensable part of your life, it is the breast milk your Spirit needs to grow, it will never lead you astray.

I challenge you to long for it. You can never be overfed with it nor get constipated. It digests as easily as you chew (you can actually chew this milk because it comes in solid form).

Maybe, like me, you find it overwhelming to take in so much of God’s sweet Word. Then by all means chew slowly. One verse of scripture a day is just about what you need to become a walking talking Bible overtime.

Who can tell you about God better than God Himself?

Selah!

BL, July 2010