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1 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV) - "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious."
In verse 3, Peter says, “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” That word “if”, in the Greek, can be translated “since,” and that’s what is implied. It’s not “if, and it might be the case.” It’s “if, and I know it is the case.” So, we would translate it like this, "Since you have tasted that the Lord is gracious," this verse of scripture is hearkening back to Psalm 34:8, which says, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who trusts in Him." Peter is conveying in this figure of speech, “Have you listened? Have you experienced the graciousness of the Lord Jesus Christ? If you have experienced the graciousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, then you don't naturally have an appetite for anything else. Jesus is enough.” Can you hear Peter, knowing of their walk with Christ, asking these questions, “Have you experienced the goodness of God? Have you felt God's grace? Have you found salvation?” Peter's saying that we should be reborn as God's children. He refers back to the same idea from the beginning of the letter and says, “Now, you've just begun a relationship with Jesus Christ. You're like a newborn baby. Don't let these five actions and attitudes hinder your growth. Also, make sure not to be influenced by the worldly activities or information. Crave the simple Word of God, and you will grow.” The Word is how they experienced their relationship with Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:22–23 (NKJV) 22Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, Can you remember the time when you were young, and your parents took you to a fancy restaurant, and you realized there was more to food than just chicken fingers and french fries? I still remember when Lydia and I first got married, and neither one of us knew how to cook. Lydia used to make pre-packaged meals where you just add meat, and I was perfectly fine with that. But over the years she started cooking meals from scratch and became a master in the kitchen. Suppose now, she asks if I want one of those pre-packaged meals? I would be grateful for the food, but after experiencing homemade meals, it's hard to settle for anything less! And when you have had a relationship with Jesus Christ, when you've had your sins forgiven, when you've experienced the new birth, when you have a new nature on the inside, you don't want anything else. You don't want the philosophies of this world, and you're not satisfied with anything else. We put pacifiers in baby’s mouths to keep them quiet between meals. But when the milk of the bottle is there, that baby does not want to be distracted by the pacifier any more. Our heart cry should be, “I want the nourishment of God’s Word.” That's the mindset that every child of God should have. Nothing else will satisfy. We've experienced the real. That's all we want. It's only then that we will grow. If my dog that had something in his mouth and I was trying to get it, do you know what I would do? It usually doesn’t work to run after him. I may try to deceive him somehow, but my dog is smart. That won’t always work. What does work every time is if I just hold up something that he wants or likes. All I have to do is ask, "Do you want a treat?" He'll drop the thing that's in his mouth, and he'll reach for the treat. Now, in the same way, we may feel we are drawn to the things of this world. We may be continually asking, “Why do I continue to consume things that aren’t good for me, spiritually speaking?” We may feel tempted to look to the world for answers instead of God’s Word. Maybe it's time to let go of those things that are not good for you, and begin to pursue and crave God’s good Word once again. Have you tasted that the Lord is gracious? Have you experienced the new birth? Once you’ve had the real, nothing else will satisfy. “Thank You, Lord, for another reminder that You want me to grow in my walk with You. I pray that I never forget the reality of my relationship with You. I have tasted and seen that You are good. I know that You are gracious. I thank You that only You can satisfy. I love You! In Jesus’ Name, amen.” |
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